Nov. 7, 2006

FARGO, ND - New Jersey Institute of Technology freshman outside hitter Kristy Haeckel is the national NCAA Division I Independent Volleyball Newcomer of the Week, award coordinator Ryan Perreault of North Dakota State announced.

Haeckel was honored for her standout play in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders, who swept St. Francis (NY), 3-0 and then lost a hard-fought 3-2 decision vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore.

A product of Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, Missouri, Haeckel averaged 5.62 kills per game, notching 45 total kills in the two matches. Against St. Francis, she had 15 kills and one error in 22 attempts. In the loss to Maryland-Eastern Shore, she had 30 kills and 8 errors in 65 attempts. Her 30 kills were 10 more than any other player in the five-game match and 11 more than any NJIT player had posted in a match this season.

NJIT is one of 10 independent NCAA Division I schools whose volleyball players are eligible for the award. Previous winners this year have come from the Utah Valley State, North Dakota State, UC-Davis, Providence and Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW).