Katie Bludau earned a spot on the All-NCAA Southeast Region Tournament Team last week, leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA Southeast Regional title match for the seventh time in nine years.
The 2017 SAC and Region Player of the Year, Bludau piled up a tournament-high 48 kills in the three matches, adding 17 digs, two blocks and an ace. She started the tournament with a career-high 21 kills in the 3-2 win over Carson-Newman, leading the Bulldogs back from a 2-0 deficit. Bludau had 18 kills in the semifinal win over Georgia College, adding five digs while hitting .283. She wrapped things up with a team-best nine kills against Flagler, adding five digs and a block.
Bludau finished the year with a league-best 4.23 kills per set, ranking in the top 20 nationally in kills per set and points per set. She finished the regular season as one of only two players in the country with at least 4.2 kills per set and a hitting percentage of over .300.