Knight, Butterfield named volleyball captains for 2013
August 28, 2013
Chris Brooks
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Senior outside hitter Keri Knight (Arvada, Colo./Business Administration) and junior libero Tessa Butterfield (Grass Valley, Calif./Justice) were named co-captains of the Alaska Nanooks women's volleyball team by their teammates for the 2013 season.
Knight, who was also a co-captain in 2012, is the only senior on the Nanooks' roster this season. She earned the program's PHD (Pride, Hustle, Desire) Award last year while finishing third on the team with 154 kills. She also contributed 69 digs, 14 service aces and 10 blocks.
Knight has also been a model student off the court, earning university Academic Walk honors in every semester she's been eligible for the recognition, and received the team's Dr. Wood Scholar-Athlete of the Year award last season. Last week, Knight was also one of 28 Alaska student-athletes to receive the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
"It is a huge honor to be chosen again, and for my senior year," said Knight. "This is a great team. There are a ton of leaders and a ton of choices (for captain). It's really nice to get to experience being captain with Tessa this year. I think she's a great leader in the backcourt. We have a really great dynamic together."
Butterfield comes to the Nanooks as a junior college transfer from San Diego City College, and will make an immediate impact in 2013 at the libero position.
She was a two-time first team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference selection at SDCC and team captain in both of her seasons there. She was the team's leading hitter, topping the PCAC with 3.60 kills per set. She was third in conference play with a .311 hitting percentage also ranked fourth in league play with 3.91 digs per set.
"It's nice to have role models and follow in footsteps," said Butterfield. It's been fun tagging along with her and the girls are super supportive and we have a really good dynamic on and off the court with the whole team, so it's been really fun already being captain."
The Nanooks begin their regular Thursday against Hawai'i-Hilo, part of a four-game road trip to Hawai'i that will also include games against No. 5-ranked BYU Hawai'i, Chaminade and Hawai'i Pacific.
Interview with Knight, Butterfield