Ampudia is Rookie of the Week, Again
10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Mizzou volleyball junior Paola Ampudia (Cali, Colombia) earned her third Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor of the 2009 season, becoming the first Tiger to take home Big 12 weekly honors three times in the same season. Ampudia had a career week, posting 40 kills on .273 hitting, 23 digs, 10 blocks and 46.5 total points against both Kansas State and No. 7 Nebraska.
"This is a great honor for Paola because she has really put in the work and really put together a tremendous week for us," head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "You can tell that as the season has progressed, she is just becoming more comfortable at this level competition and with her teammates on the floor. I am just really pleased to see that she is starting to put it all together."
"I am very proud to receive this honor for the third time this season, but I know that I can still play a lot better," Ampudia commented. "My teammates have done a great job of getting me swings and I have just tried my best to help the team. If I can help the team win, it means more to me than getting an individual award."
Ampudia had a career night in the Tigers' match with No. 7 Nebraska on Saturday, setting career-bests in kills (23), digs (13), blocks (six), points (26.5) and total attacks (61). The 23-kill, 13-dig effort was also good for her second career double-double. Ampudia hit .295 in that match as well - her third best attack percentage of the season - and posted 8.5 more total points than any other player on the floor, including 16.5 more points than any other Tiger. Even with Nebraska double- and triple-blocking Ampudia all night, the Tiger junior still posted career-bests in nearly every offensive category during that match.
Ampudia had what would be considered a career night at Kansas State on Wednesday as well, if not for her match against Nebraska. Ampudia posted 17 kills in the match and pulled in a then career-best 10 digs for her first career double-double. Ampudia also added a service ace, four blocks, a career-best three assists and accounted for 20.0 total points while hitting .245.
Over her last four matches, Ampudia has team-highs in kills (66), blocks (17), points (77.5) and ranks fourth in digs (32). Ampudia now ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 3.59 kills per set and 4.12 points per set in league play. Her 26.5 total points against Nebraska are the third-most by any player in a Big 12 match this season while her 23 kills in that match are also the third most by any player in a Big 12 match this season.
Ampudia and the Tigers face a tough week on the road as they head to No. 2 Texas on Wednesday and archrival Kansas on Saturday. For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com.
