Marshall University Athletics
Bane and Kiekover Named Second Team All-Conference
11/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A day after being named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, senior Sammie Bane (Brownstown, Ind.) and sophomore Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) have earned All-C-USA second team honors, as announced by the league Tuesday.
"Great to have these two recognized by the league's coaches," Herd coach Mitch Jacobs said.
Bane, a setter, is fourth all-time at Marshall with 5,101 career assists, and turned in a league-high 688 assists during conference play. She averaged 10.42 assists per set. Bane is first on the Herd squad with 29 service aces, and added 51 kills.
The 5-foot-4 front row player also turned in 28 total blocks and 302 digs.
"Sammie's selection, I believe, is one truly out of respect," Jacobs said of his four-year captain. "Coaches can see what makes a team tick and there is just no question why we finished the conference season with a 7-2 run from ninth to fifth place. Without Sammie and her desire to be successful, I don't know if we would have recovered from our four-match losing streak in the middle of conference play."
Kiekover led the Herd with 330 kills, also putting up 70 total blocks and 21 service aces. The middle blocker turned in her season-high 19 kills in Marshall's thrilling 3-2 upset at Rice on Nov. 13, and has collected double-digit kills in 19 contests this season.
Kiekover has recorded an above-.500 hitting efficiency in seven matches this year, the highest being .667 in the Herd's win over in-state rival West Virginia in October. She was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week in September.
"When it comes to Kiko," Jacobs said, "she just came into her own when we switched to the 5-1 at the start of conference. For the most part, she is one of the toughest kids in our league to stop when she goes behind the setter for various slide attacks."
"I also want to mention Lauren Legge," Jacobs finished. "Maybe if I were a little smarter and switched her to the right side earlier, she might also be on this squad. She has had an amazing last nine matches for us. I told the team at the end of the UAB match that I believed I was failing them. I can't be prouder as a coach of this group for recommitting and believing in myself and our staff to have this finish. I'd do anything to see these ladies be successful next week. It's a great group with a very unselfish love for each other, and it all starts with Sammie. She's just the best leader I've ever had the privilege to coach."
