Last Week’s Stats: .458 hitting percentage, 5.92 points per set, 5.17 kills per set, 2.50 digs per set, 0.83 blocks per set
Klaer put up impressive numbers across the board last weekend to help Chicago State hold on to its spot on top of the NEC standings with a pair of 3-0 wins over Mercyhurst. Combining for 31 kills with just four miscues in that stretch for a sizzling .458 hitting percentage, the junior racked up 5.92 points per set and led all NEC hitters with an average of 5.17 kills per set. In addition, Klaer tacked on even more points to her count after combining for five blocks and a pair of service aces. A setter/outside hitter from St. Joseph, MI, she had a stellar outing in Friday’s series opener, tallying a double-double on 12 digs and a match-best 17 kills. She made it back-to-back outings with double-digit kills on Saturday after finishing with 14 while adding three blocks and a pair of aces. With the regular season crown and the NEC tournament’s top seed on the line in this weekend’s series at second-place Saint Francis U, Klaer enters the final two matches of the campaign ranked sixth in the conference in kills per set (2.80), eighth in service aces per set (0.42) and 10th in digs per set (2.45). This is her second NEC/Molten Player of the Week award this season, and the fifth for the Cougars.