WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 2014 season marked the end of the careers for two influential Boilermaker senior volleyball players: KiKi Jones and Val Nichol. Behind the All-America duo, the Boilers posted a 97-38 mark, including 22 wins against Top 25 opponents, and made three straight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearances, including an Elite Eight berth in 2013
The pair helped the Boilermakers to five wins over Top 10 opponents, including the 2013 NCAA Second Round victory over previously undefeated No. 4 Missouri. The 2013 AVCA All-Americans also have garnered five Academic All-Big Ten honors, eight Big Ten Player/Defensive Player/Setter of Freshman of the Week accolades, two All-Region honors and two All-Big Ten selections.
This week, we will take a look at the accomplishments of each player individually and the impact she has made on the Boilermaker program.
KiKi Jones
Kierra "KiKi" Jones has set the standard for Purdue in hitting efficiency, posting a career .367 effort, besting Stephanie Lynch's .351 effort from 2005-08. The Fishers, Ind., native also ranks second in career block assists (454) and fifth in total blocks (510). Her name also occupies three spots on the single-season hitting percentage lists: second (.394 in 2013), fifth (.360 in 2012) and seventh (.353 in 2014) and the fourth place spot in season block assists (143 in 2013).
In 2014, the Preseason All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree saw action in 31 matches, starting 27. She averaged 1.93 kills and 1.00 blocks per set, while hitting at a team-best .353 clip, which ranked seventh among Big Ten players. She also added 66 digs and five aces. Jones led the Boilers in blocks 16 times and posted five or more blocks on nine occasions. She also put down double-digit kills five times, leading the team with a career-best 19 at Northwestern. The model of efficiency hit at a .250 or better clip 20 times, including .300-plus 19 times and .400 or better 15 times. The middle blocker recorded career-best nine digs vs. Michigan State and was named to Active Ankle Challenge all-tournament team earlier in the season.
All told, the 2013 Honorable Mention All-America and AVCA All-Northeast Region selection ranked among the nation's top 50 in hitting percentage during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and ranked 67th in 2014. A three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, she has led the Boilers in total blocks each of her last three seasons. Jones posted double-digit kill totals in 19 matches, while also adding five or more blocks 46 times. In total, she put down 865 kills, while hitting at a .367 clip and putting up 510 blocks. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, the movement and sport sciences major is set to graduate in May.