WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As part of our countdown to the season, we will give you the inside scoop on one of our 16 players. With 12 days left until the home opener, we introduce senior Kierra KiKi Jones, a 6-1 middle blocker from Fishers, Ind.
One of our two senior leaders, KiKi is coming off a 2013 season that brought her AVCA All-America honorable mention and All-Northeast Region honors. She ranked 28th nationally in hitting percentage (.397), fourth best in the Big Ten and second on Purdue's season records list, and put up 2.15 kills per set and a team-best 1.21 blocks per set to go with 25 aces. She led the team in blocks 20 times and in kills four times.
A starter in all 35 of the team's matches, Jones also garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades and Academic All-Big Ten honors for her work in the classroom. She looks to lead a strong corps of middles in 2014, including redshirt junior Kaisley Fisher, redshirt sophomore Faye Adelaja and freshman Danielle Cuttino.
Let's get to know KiKi a little bit better.
Sweet or Salty: Salty
Chocolate or Vanilla:Chocolate
Dogs or Cats:Dogs
Vacation - At the beach or in the mountains: Beach
Coolest place I've ever been:The Bahamas
Person I look up to the most: My dad
Best feeling - stuff block or big kill: Stuff block
Best feeling - service ace or big diving save: Big diving save
Three words that describe me:Outgoing, funny, good listener
One more to describe my game: Fun
Team I am most excited to play in 2014: Penn State
Best non-athletic talent: Sewing
Dream job: Championship/Event planning
Song I have to listen to before every game: Fancy by Iggy Azalea
Favorite sweet treat: Snickers
Favorite ice cream flavor: Oreo
Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving
Favorite sport besides volleyball: College basketball
Favorite sports team: Indiana Pacers
Favorite athlete:Chris Paul
Favorite TV Show: Scandal
Favorite Movie: P.S. I Love You
Favorite Book: The Hunger Games
Favorite Musical Artist: Iggy Azalea
Favorite Type of Pizza: Pepperoni and pineapple