Chandler, AZ-- The Arizona Community College Athletics Conference volleyball coaches conducted their end of season meeting over the weekend, and voted Coyote volleyball middle blocker Kennedy Dastrup as the ACCAC Volleyball Player of the Year. In 20 matches during the regular season, she accumulated 276 kills which averages to 3.58 kills per set on a .330 hitting percentage. The Sophomore and Westwood High School graduate averaged 1.16 blocks per set and amassed 89 total blocks with 20 solo blocks.
Head Coach Jeff Nelson, who has now coached and developed his second ACCAC Player of the Year in Dastrup after Jazmyn Tate won the award two seasons ago said, "Kennedy has worked extremely hard and overcome some real difficulties not only to achieve what she has, but just to be playing in geneal. I am really proud of her and excited for her future."
The 6'4 standing Dastrup has been instrumental in the unprecedented success the Coyote Volleyball program has experienced under Jeff Nelson. She has been a force offensively and defensively and has been a key reason for the Coyotes being perenially ranked amongst the top 10 to 15 teams in the entire nation. Dastrup has lead the team to a 13-9 record this season, only losing to other ranked opponents. They finished the season ranked second in the conference only behind Scottsdale Community College, the number 2 ranked team in the land. Now, Dastrup and the Coyotes look to take home the ultimate prize as they begin Region 1 postseason play on Thursday afternoon as they begin their quest towards winning a Region 1 title, a birth into the NJCAA National Tournament and a National Championship.
The future is bright for the Coyote Volleyball team and especially for Dastrup who will have her choice of four year universities to attend next Fall on a volleyball scholarship.
