ATHENS, W.Va. - 2018 was full was special moments for Concord Athletics as three student-athletes garnered All-American status, two more athletes earned the distinction of NCAA Division II Statistical Champion. The past calendar was full of triumphs, victories and celebrations for several Concord sports programs. From December 22 through December 31, we will count down the best moments from the last 365 days.
On Christmas Eve, we highlight moment number eight.
Entering the 2018 volleyball season, only four players in program history had achieved 1,000 career kills. However, two current players were chasing the 1,000-kill mark:
Brooke Heck and
Alexi Pranckus.
Heck got to 1,000 career kills on the first weekend of competition on August 25 against Elizabeth City State as she only needed 24 kills to reach 1,000 at the beginning of the season. Heck tallied 1,225 career kills, third all-time.
Meanwhile, Pranckus chased 1,000 kills throughout the season. With two big performances near the end of the season against UVa.-Wise and West Virginia State, the Tinley Park, Illinois native needed four kills in her final collegiate match to notch 1,000 kills. Halfway through the match at Charleston, Pranckus became the sixth player with 1,000 kills and joined Heck in the exclusive club.
Both players had quite an impressive career in the Maroon and Gray.
Not only did Heck reach 1,000 kills but she concluded her career as the program leader in hitting percentage (.320)—hitting at least .300 in all four seasons at Concord. The Huntington, West Virginia native also finished her career with 311 blocks, sixth in program history.
For Pranckus, she recorded career dig number 1,000 earlier in the 2018 season which made her just one of two players in program history with 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
On the Christmas Day, the countdown shifts to an outdoor sport.
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