Appold Selected as espnW National Player of the Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2015
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A week after the Big Ten Conference chose Audra Appold as one of the league’s co-Players of the Week (Oct. 5), the freshman out of Perrysburg, Ohio, saw the national spotlight shine in her direction. Appold was named the espnW National Player of the Week on Oct. 14 following her performance during road victories at Northwestern and Illinois over the weekend.
It marks the second consecutive season a Buckeye has earned the national award after Elizabeth Campbell took home the recognition on Oct. 8, 2014. A total of nine Buckeyes have now picked up National Player of the Week honors, all starting with Laura Davis’ selection as the AVCA’s National Player of the Week in 1994 (Nov. 21).
ESPNW VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: OHIO STATE’S AUDRA APPOLD
–espnW.com
Complete espnW release below:
Audra Appold won $15 when a friend dared her to try out for the volleyball team in seventh grade.
Six years later, Appold is still playing volleyball and winning. The 6-foot-1 Ohio State outside hitter and this week’s espnW national player of the week is the top offensive weapon for the Buckeyes (16-2), ranked seventh in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
The freshman from Perrysburg, Ohio, led Ohio State to a pair of road victories last week at Northwestern and Illinois, recording double-digit kills in both matches, including an 18-kill effort against the Wildcats. She added 19 digs versus the Illini, ranked 13th at the time. She is Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week.
“You’re never quite sure about freshmen,” said Ohio State coach Geoff Carlston. “Audra has a super steady personality. Players really love her. She works hard. She’s really bonded to the idea that if she works hard and stays engaged in the process, good things are going to happen. Did I think she was going to be our starting L1? No. I knew it would depend on how hard she worked and how easily she would be able to transfer mentally to the college game.”
Admittedly, Appold said, she thought she’d sit more, play less as a freshman.
“I was not expecting to play the role I am,” she said. “Throughout preseason, I started playing more and more and getting more into the role. So slowly it built up. Everyone has been super supportive.”
Appold said the speed and physicality of the college game were adjustments, but she came in well prepared by her Premier 18 club team.
“Many freshmen have never lifted a weight before,” Carlston agreed. “She came into the summer in great shape.”
Three weeks ago, Carlston said he had a conversation with Appold, telling her he knew she had more to offer. She’s been on fire since, averaging five kills per set. Her dominating 22-kill performance against a Nebraska team that came off a victory the night before over Penn State earned her Co-Big Ten player of the week honors.
To think all of of it started with that seventh-grade bet, when Appold surprised her friend by making the team despite a complete lack of skills. Gymnastics had been her primary sport until then.
“I made it, but I was awful; I was on second string,” she said. “If you watch old videos of me playing, I never touched the ball.”
But Appold fell in love with the game quickly and applied a similar work ethic that earned her father, Jonn, the spot of starting quarterback after walking on to the football team at Miami (Ohio) University. As for Audra deciding on Ohio State, that was the easy part.
“I always wanted to go here; my dream came true,” said Appold, also a rollerblade enthusiast and recreational swimmer. “I knew I would be here even if I wasn’t playing volleyball.”
Ohio State is home this weekend for games against Big Ten unbeaten Purdue and Indiana before returning to the road against Michigan and Michigan State. While the travel can be a grind in a league where nine of the 14 teams are nationally ranked, Appold embraces it.
“It’s awesome being on the road,” she said. “It’s like a road trip with your family and friends. That’s how we went about last weekend.”
Ohio State still has plenty of room to grow, added Appold, one of two freshmen with a key role on the team. Taylor Hughes is the reigning Big Ten setter of the week.
“We still have a way to go,” she said. “In the Big Ten, any night anyone can win. You just never know who’s going to come out on top. You can’t peak at all. You have to keep climbing throughout the season.”
