(Posted November 8, 2004)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Kines (Towson/Towson, Md.) has been named the AVCA/Sports Imports Division III National Player of the Week for her efforts in helping top-ranked Juniata claim the Commonwealth Conference Championship this past week. Kines also earned Commonwealth player of the week honors, the third time this season she's been honored by the conference.

After claiming second-team All-Conference honors at the start of the week Kines, was a standout offensive performer for Juniata in the Commonwealth Conference postseason. She pounded out a career-high 25 kills with an impressive .742 hitting percentage in helping Juniata clinch its 24th-consecutive conference championship in a three-game win over Susquehanna. She added one block in the match. Earlier in the week she led the Eagles with 10 attacks with a five blocks and a .500 hitting percentage in a three-game win over Lebanon Valley in the conference semifinal. Kines finished the week with 35 kills, six blocks, four digs and a .660 attack percentage.

"Stephanie has been a productive player for us all season, and this past week was as good as she's been," stated Juniata Head Coach Larry Bock. "She's a powerful attacker who can be tough to stop when she gets on a roll. We love being able to set her in big situations, and she continually came up big this week."

For the season Kines is among the national leaders in Division III in hitting percentage. She currently boasts the Juniata lead in kills with 374 while attacking at a .466 clip. She ranks first in the Commonwealth Conference in hitting percentage and second in kills per game. Her block total of 87 leads the team and is in the top-five in the conference. This is the third time this season that Kines has been recognized as the conference player of the week. It is the second national player of the week honor that Juniata has earned this season, and the first in Kines' career. Juniata has captured eight AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week since the inception of the award.

Kines and Juniata will take its 32-3 record into the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional beginning this Friday at Gettysburg College. Juniata is the top seed in the region, and will play the winner of the match between fourth-seed Frostburg State and fifth-seed Salisbury State on Friday at 4:30 pm. The Regional Championship match will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.