| Ellie Blankenship |
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 | Class: Sophomore
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 | Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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 | High School: Kennedy
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 | Height: 5-8
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 | Position: DS
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2007: Had the most productive season ever for a UNI defensive specialist ... recorded UNI-record 624 digs (5.43 digs per game) as a true freshman ... racked up double-figures in digs in all 33 matches ... had 13 matches of 20 or more digs, and three matches of 30 or more ... career best 32 digs in just her third college match, against Kentucky 8/25 ... named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team ... named MVC Freshman of the Week Nov. 12 after averaging 6.67 digs per game over two UNI matches ... her 25 digs against Evansville 11/9 tied a UNI record for the most digs ever by a Panther player in a three-game match ... finished second on the team in service aces with 23.
High School: Earned eight letters in three sports at Kennedy: volleyball (3), tennis (3) and basketball (2) ... three-year starter in volleyball ... first-team all-conference in volleyball and second-team all-state as a senior ... was team co-captain in 2006 ... played in IGCA Senior All-Star Volleyball Classic ... four-year honor roll student ... in tennis, team was state runner up in 2004 and 2006 and state champion in 2007.
Personal: Daughter of David and Lois Blankenship ... full name is Danielle ZoAnne Blankenship ... has an older sister, Carrie, and an older brother, Troy ... sister, Carrie, played college volleyball at Northern Illinois; brother, Troy, played college football at Iowa State; and mother, Lois, played college basketball at Iowa ... born June 4, 1989 in Cedar Rapids.
CAREER HIGHS
Kills: 1, several times
Aces: 3 vs. Fresno State (9/8/07)
Blocks: 0
Digs: 32 vs. Kentucky (8/25/07)
Assists: 5, several times
Points: 3.0 vs. Fresno State (9/8/07)