Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Kristy Elswick For 2005 Season
11/22/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 22, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - For the first time since the NCAA created the position of libero for the 2002 volleyball season, Southern Illinois specifically used a scholarship to fill the position, signing Kristy Elswick to a letter of intent during the early signing period last week.
"We recruited her just to play libero for us. It's the first time we've ever recruited someone outright to scholarship a player in that position," said Sonya Locke, SIU head coach.
"I think the nature of the game is headed toward how good your defense is. We're losing our libero Erica Miller, who put up numbers at an all-conference level for most of the year, so it's more important than ever to have a defensive player that you can rely on."
Elswick played for traditional Kentucky power Assumption High School in Louisville, winning the 2004 Kentucky State Title with a 38-5 record. She was named to the All-State and All-District Teams as a senior, and was named Honorable Mention All-State as a junior, after leading her team to a district championship and regional runner-up finish. Assumption has won 11 of the last 13 state volleyball titles.
"Louisville is where the best volleyball in the state of Kentucky is played. She has a great volleyball background. When you want to boost the level of your program, she is the type of player we strive to bring to SIU. She may be small, but you won't know it when she starts putting up numbers," added Locke.
Despite her 5'5 height, Elswick was the first player Locke had on her list, if she chose to recruit and scholarship someone strictly to be a libero.
"Kristy was the first player on our list of people, if we decided to scholarship a libero, so we're excited that she chose SIU. The first time we ever went after a libero, we got the person we wanted, and we're getting a player that is coming from the best high school program in the state of Kentucky. We've recruited Assumption High for a long time and Kristy is the first player to come to SIU from that program," Locke stated.
As expected when a program makes the commitment to scholarship a libero, Locke will have great expectations, and expects great things from Elswick her freshman year.
"We're looking for her to help us right away. She's the real deal. Kristy will make us better defensively and will bring a winning attitude to the team. She may be small in stature, but she's got a big heart, great experience and a winning tradition to add to the program," said Locke.
In addition to her prep experience, Elswick won an AAU title with KIVA as a freshman and was part of AAU runner-up teams as a sophomore and junior. She was an AAU All-American and MVP as a freshman and a member of a Junior Olympic runner-up team. Elswick has also been an honors student in each of the past three years.
Locke has one scholarship remaining and will fill her final commitment during the spring signing period in April.
