Estill County has hired two former EKU players as their new head volleyball coaches. Ashley Edmond and Candice Blitz. Expected to start Monday.

Eastern Kentucky University Athletics - Candice Biltz - 2012 Volleyball

 

Eastern Kentucky University Athletics - Ashley Edmond - 2012 Volleyball

 

Ashley Edmond

 

At Eastern Kentucky

2012 – 2012 All-Ohio Valley Conference selection … played in 27 matches and 102 of 105 sets … led the team in kills (326) and points (366) … second on the team in digs (298) … fourth on the team in assists (21) … third on the team in total blocks (32) … ranked sixth in the OVC with an average of 3.59 points per set … ranked sixth in the OVC with 3.20 kills per set … selected OVC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 22 … recorded 10 or more kills in 19 of 27 matches … matched her career-high in kills (24) and recorded 21 digs versus Southeast Missouri (Oct. 20) … 2012-13 Colonel Scholar.

2011 – 2011 All-Ohio Valley Conference selection … played in all 32 matches and 123 sets … led the team in kills (404) and points (441) … second on the team in blocks (51) and digs (302) … fourth on the team with 34 assists … ranked sixth in the OVC with an average of 3.28 kills per set … ranked eighth in the OVC with an average of 3.59 points per set … her 1,268 attacks are the ninth most in one season in program history … chosen as the OVC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 … had 10 or more kills in a match 23 times and registered 20-plus kills six times … had 10 or more digs in a match on 14 occasions … set a new career-high with 24 kills twice – in a five-set match against Bowling Green State (Sept. 2) and in a five-set match at Austin Peay (Oct. 3) … posted a new career-best of 26 digs in a five-set win against Troy (Sept. 10) … had four blocks in a match three times.

2010 – 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year … selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team … led the team with 366 kills, 25 service aces and 420 points … ranked seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with 3.21 kills per set and sixth with 3.69 points per set … third on the team with 45 blocks … recorded five double-doubles (kills-digs) … recorded a season-best 20 kills twice, versus USC Upstate (Sept. 4) and Tennessee Tech (Sept. 17) … also had a season-high 21 digs against Tennessee Tech (Sept. 17) … posted a season-best four aces against Austin Peay (Oct. 5) … 2010-11 Colonel Scholar.

 

High School

Three-time first team all-state selection … led her team to four straight state championships ... three-time championship game MVP … over four years, she led her team to a 132-26 record, including a 70-10 mark during her junior and senior seasons … second team all-state as a freshman and Prep Volleyball Top 59 Frosh in the Nation … Prep Volleyball 25 Finalist for Top Sophomore in the Nation after recording 553 kills (school record), 402 digs, 84 aces and 45 blocks … had 540 kills, 345 digs, 110 aces and 85 blocks her junior season, breaking the school record for career kills … set school records her senior season for kills in a match (31) and career digs (1,385) … three-time area player of the year.

 

Candice Blitz

 

 

At Eastern Kentucky

2012 – played in 25 matches and 80 of 105 sets ... averaged 1.3 digs per set … had season-high 12 digs versus Belmont (Nov. 2). 2011 – played in all 32 matches and 122 of 127 sets … fourth on the team with 196 digs … fourth on the team with 38 assists … posted 10 or more digs in eight matches … had a season-high 15 digs against Rhode Island (Aug. 27) … posted a season-best three aces in the season opener against Howard (Aug. 26) … 2011-12 Colonel Scholar.

2010 – played in 18 matches … started twice … played in 43 sets … recorded a season-high 13 digs twice, versus Pepperdine (Sept. 11) and at Southeast Missouri (Sept. 24) … had a season-high three aces at Jacksonville State (Oct. 22).

 

High School

Two-time second team all-area selection at Riverdale High School in Ft. Myers, Fla. … helped her team capture the 2A state championship as a sophomore and a second straight district title her junior season … team most valuable player as a freshman.

 

Personal

Daughter of Edward and Darlene Biltz … born June 3, 1991 … has three brothers – Shane, Dutch and Isaiah, and has two sisters – Micki and Casey ... chose EKU over Florida, Tampa and Pittsburgh … majoring in general studies in health science.

I know both of these young women from working at EKU. They are AMAZING players and will certainly make Estill County even better.