2021 Fall: Academic All-MAC… MAC West Setter of the Week (9/14)… Averaged 10.71 assists per set… Had 14 double-doubles on the season…Posted 45 assists and 10 digs in season-opening win over Western Illinois (8/27)…Filled the box score with 47 assists, 11 digs, two kills, two aces and a block in win over The Citadel (9/10)…Had 55 assists in 3-1 win at Charleston Southern (9/11)… Earned MAC West Setter of the Week on Sept. 14 after averaging over 12 assists per set at the Charleston Southern Tournament… Had 50 assists in 3-1 win at Central Michigan (9/25)…Dished out a season-high 57 assists at Western Michigan (9/28), adding 14 digs…Had 55 assists, 10 digs, three kills and four blocks in 3-2 win at Miami (10/9)… Recorded her 3,500
th career assist at Ball State (10/16), becoming the fifth Huskie to reach that mark…Had a career-high five blocks in win over Buffalo (11/13/21).
2021 Spring: Academic All-MAC…
MAC West Setter of the Week (Feb. 23)… Played in all 22 matches… Averaged a career-high 9.77 assists per set… Had 10 double-doubles on the season… Had 43 assists, 11 digs and two kills in NIU’s 3-2 win over Toledo on Jan. 28… Posted season-highs of 55 assists and 15 digs at Central Michigan on Feb. 4… Had a season-high seven kills to go with 50 assists, nine digs and four blocks in 3-1 win over Eastern Michigan on Feb. 12… Named MAC West Setter of the Week on Feb. 22 after averaging 13.2 assists, 3.17 digs, and 0.67 blocks per set in NIU’s two 3-0 wins at Ball State… Had 40 assists and 12 digs in 3-1 win at Buffalo on March 12… Dished out 50 assists in 3-2 win at Kent State on March 19.
2019: Academic All-MAC…
MAC West Setter of the Week (October 28)…
Dayton Invitational All-Tournament Team…Played in 109 sets over 30 matches… Finished third in the MAC in assists, averaging 9.59 per set… Recorded season-high 60 assists in a 3-2 win over UC Riverside on August 31… Had 44 assists, 16 digs and three aces in 3-1 win against Niagara on September 13… Posted 50 assists, 10 digs, and four kills in win at Toledo on October 5… Earned MAC West Setter of the Week on October 28 after averaging 11 assists per week in four-set wins over Kent State and Ohio… Had 55 assists and 11 digs in five-set match at Bowling Green on November 16.
2018: Holiday Inn Express Invitational All-Tournament Team… Started all 32 matches and played all 122 sets… Led NIU with 7.77 assists per set; 10
th in the MAC in assists… Had 30 assists, eight digs, and two aces in collegiate debut against DePaul on Aug. 24… Recorded first career double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs against Xavier on Aug. 25… Had 24 assists and season-high 21 digs in five-set match against Northern Kentucky on Sept. 1… Dished out 44 assists at WKU on Sept. 15… Had 48 assists, six digs, and season-high four blocks in 3-1 win over Western Michigan on Sept. 27… Set season-highs with 60 assists and 20 digs in five-set win at Ohio on Oct. 20… Had 46 assists and 11 digs in 3-2 win at Western Michigan on Oct. 31.
Prior to NIU: Four-year letterwinner at McCutcheon High School, where she holds the career assists record... Led McCutcheon to a 25-6 record and the North Central Conference championship as a senior... Three-Time All-Conference selection... Two-Time Lafayette Journal & Courier Big School Player of the Year.
Personal: Daughter of Julie and Tim Balensiefer... Majoring in Pre-Occupational Therapy... Admires her sister Ashlyn, who inspired her to play volleyball and be a setter as well as be a great role model on and off the court... Member of National Honor Society.
CAREER HIGHS
| Kills: |
8 vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 27, 2018) |
| Attempts: |
12, twice, last at Eastern Michigan (Nov. 1, 2019) |
| Hitting Percentage: |
.636 vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 27, 2018) |
| Assists: |
60, twice, last vs. UC Riverside (Aug. 31, 2019) |
| Aces: |
3 vs. Niagara (Sept. 13, 2019) |
| Digs: |
21 vs. Northern Kentucky (Sept. 1, 2018) |
| Blocks: |
4, 4 times, last vs. Eastern Michigan (Feb. 12, 2021) |
| Points: |
10.0 vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 27, 2018) |
