MOSCOW, ID- Idaho Volleyball redshirt Junior
Nikki Ball etched her name in the record books following a successful sophomore campaign.
Ball earned Big Sky All-Conference Second Team honors last season. She led the Vandals defensively with 137 total blocks, including 37 solo blocks.
The Folsom, California native set the Idaho single-game record in solo blocks on Nov. 7
th, 2019 against Montana. Ball was virtually unstoppable defensively throughout the contest with a school record seven solo blocks while adding in eight block assists, giving her 15 total blocks in the match.
Ball became a force during her sophomore season, dominating defensively and offensively while earning all-conference recognition. Going into the season Ball, along with the other middle blockers wanted to have more of a role than before, which contributed to success.
"We wanted the middles to have more of a role on the court this last year," said Ball. We were working really hard with our setters, making sure we were more available, in order to open up the offense."
In two seasons Ball has accumulated 284 total blocks which leads all current Vandals. She has totaled 43 solo blocks and 241 block assists in her career, putting her on the cusp of another record book milestone.
"Defense has definitely been a bigger part of my game," said Ball. "Getting used to the speed of the offense was a little more difficult for me to catch on to. Defense was something I leaned on a little more than offense. Now I feel like my offense has caught up, but I would say defense is one of my strengths."
Ball recorded 249 kills in 2019, the third-best on the team. Her defense continued to shine however, especially against Montana late in the season when she set the school record with seven solo blocks.
"I had no idea, so that's been a really fun surprise," said Ball. "I don't want to peak. I want to keep going, maybe break another record. I made second team all-conference last year so making first team is a goal. It means a lot to me to know that my hard work has paid off."
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