Takashima Ends Career With NWC Volleyball Weekly Honors
FOREST GROVE – Pacific middle blocker
Kelsy Takashima (Sr., Kaunakakai, Hawaii) could not have ended her Pacific career better than she did with her two weekend performances against Willamette and Pacific Lutheran.
The Northwest Conference recognized those performances on Tuesday with selection as the league's final 2011 Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week.
Takashima led the way for the Boxers with 35 kills and a .370 hitting percentage in the two matches. She also had five service aces, three digs and eight blocks. She averaged an impressive 3.89 kills and 0.56 service aces per set.
This is the second time Takashima has earned with the conference's weekly honor this season. She also earned the award, as voted upon by the league's sports information directors, on Oct. 18.
“It is hard to put into words the quality of person, player and teammate Kelsy has been for our program,” said Pacific Head Coach Lena Chan. “Kelsy has worked day in and day out, without fail, to get Pacific volleyball to be able to compete with any team across the net. She comes out every match and fives everything she has. She has been an inspiration that will continue to affect Pacific volleyball for years to come.”
Takashima led Pacific in a four-set victory over Willamette on Friday that ensures the Boxers' first winning season since 2007. She finished with 13 kills, one assist, four service aces and three blocks.
She and the Boxers came out inspired on senior night against No. 22 ranked Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, pushing the playoff-bound Lutes to five sets. In the highly competitive match, Takashima finished with 22 kills and just two attack errors for a season-high .556 hitting percentage. She added one ace, one dig and six blocks.
The graduate of Molokai High School has certainly put together the type of year that should earn her First Team All-Northwest Conference honors. She finished the league's regular season ranked first with 0.56 service aces per set, second with her .323 hitting percentage and total of 326 kills and sixth with 82 blocks. She next a new Pacific single season record in for both the 25/30-point era and all-time with a .323 hitting percentage.
Takashima helped lead Pacific to their best finish since 2007. The Boxers finished with a 13-12 overall record and in fifth place in the NWC with a 7-9 mark.
