Seiji Wood
Sports Editor
Iona native and Bonneville High School graduate, Haylie Keck, is a key player on Idaho State’s volleyball team, exceling as the team’s libero and setting records along the way.
Keck is currently Idaho State’s single-season record holder in digs, ranking in the top two spots with 599 and 548 digs during her first two seasons at ISU.
Keck also ranks third in career-digs in school history with 1,539 digs, only behind Kylee Sessions (1,795) and Susie Ketchum (1,621).
At the pace that Keck is playing, she’ll catch both Ketchum and Sessions to become Idaho State’s career record holder in digs before her time is done at ISU.
“It’s really cool because I’ve followed them since I was little,” Keck said. “Obviously, I wanted to play college volleyball, and this was just the closest thing to me.”
But distance wasn’t the only reason Keck decided to come to Idaho State. She didn’t even plan on becoming a Bengal until late into her recruiting process.
“I wasn’t planning on coming here and then I came to a camp about two weeks before I made my decision,” Keck said. “It just felt right. The camp and the girls were so awesome. It was really fitting. So, then I made my decision to come here.”
Keck has made the most of her time since she has been here and has put up some impressive personal accolades.
Keck has been awarded the Big Sky Conference Defensive player of the week twice this season, both coming in back-to-back-weeks. She’s the first Idaho State player to win the conference player of the week award in back-to-back weeks since 2012.
Keck had a career-high 38 digs this season against Weber State, a school record for a match that lasted four games and the third-highest mark in Idaho State history. She averages eight digs per set and has tallied double-digit digs in 18 of 19 matches this season with a 10-game streak.
In the national rankings, Keck is currently No. 12 in total digs with 392 and No. 17 in digs per set with 1.35. Both of those marks lead the Big Sky Conference.
A lot of Keck’s success and production is due to her experience on the court.
Keck, currently a junior, was given playing time as a freshman and has held her job ever since.
“It’s what you work for, you know? Every day in practice you’re looking for a spot,” Keck said. “I don’t know if I expected to come in playing as a freshman, but when the opportunity presented itself that I could have playing time, it’s definitely something that I worked for every single day.”
Despite all of Keck’s accolades and accomplishments, that’s not what she cares about.
“I just want to go out and play my best for my team every single game,” Keck said. “Give everything that I can for every point.”
