Grand Valley State University Athletics

As a Sophomore (2017)
Named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team…Played in all 28 matches, appearing in 102 total sets…Led the team with 341 digs and 3.34 digs per set, was just one of two players to surpass the 300-dig mark…Ranked 12th and 14th in the GLIAC in those stats, respectively…Tallied a .904 reception percentage on 408 attempts…Ranked second on the team with 18 service aces…Picked up a season-best 33 digs against Davenport (9/22) to go along with four assists and two aces…Added another 30 digs against Winona State (9/9)…Picked up a season-high six assists twice against NW Missouri State (9/1) and Clarion (9/8)…Tallied double digit digs in 16 of her 28 matches played.

As a Freshman (2016)
Ranked 12th in the GLIAC in digs per set (3.61) and 23rd in assists per set (0.79)… Appeared in 26 of 29 matches as a true freshman, playing in 85 total sets…Totaled 307 digs on the year, one of four Lakers to surpass the 300-dig mark, finishing fourth on the team in that category…Led GVSU with 22 service aces and ranked third with 67 assists…Recorded three of the team’s top-five single match dig totals, including season-high 27 digs at Lake Erie (Oct. 1)…Added 21 digs in five-set win over Adelphi (Sept. 9) and four-set road victory at Ohio Dominican (Sept. 30); passed for season-high seven assists in both matches…Picked up double-digit digs in 17 matches, including first six collegiate contests…Tallied 16 digs, season-high four aces, and one of two kills on the year in five-set contest against #20 Cal State San Bernardino (Sept. 3)...Served an ace in 12 matches, including multiple aces in seven contests…Posted 20+ digs three times in a stretch of four matches from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14.

High School: Prepped at Normal Community West High School in Normal, Ill. under head coach Kelsey Drendel…Earned All-Big 12 Conference honors and best defensive player honors as a senior…Tabbed as Big 12 Scholar-Athlete during each of final two seasons…Named team captain as a freshman and senior…Also played one year of softball…Participated in church group program and a freshman mentoring program.
 
Personal: Daughter of Mike and Sheryl Benchley…Enjoys boating, sports activities, volunteering at the humane society, camping, and reading…Majoring in nursing.