Elisabeth Tharp | Broadcast Reporter

Baylor volleyball redshirt senior, Katie Staiger, is one accomplished athlete.

Last season, she was second team All-American and this season, she’s earned Big XII offensive player of the week recognition for the second week in a row. She is also fourth in all-time kills, first in the rally scoring era and was just named a Senior Class Award candidate.

Staiger said she never would have guessed the athletic department would take care of her the way they have and that being a student athlete has made her time at Baylor an incredible experience.

“If you would have asked me what being a student athlete was like, I would not have even guessed that they would just take care you this way and make these four or five years for me so memorable,” Staiger said. “So it’s been incredible,”

After coaching Staiger since her freshman year, Baylor volleyball head coach, Ryan McGuyre, remains excited for Katie as she prepares to graduate.

“On the court, offensively, she’s hitting the ball harder than anyone can,” McGuyre said.“Off the court, just a beautiful example with just her integrity and there is a virtuous kindness behind Katie.”

Out of all the games she’s played in for Baylor, Staiger’s favorite match was last year when the team won against USD in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We hadn’t made it to the NCAA Tournament since I’d been here, so that was awesome to not just make it, but go farther than we expected,” Staiger said.

As Staiger prepares to graduate in the spring from Baylor’s MBA program, she is looking to land a job on the business side of college athletics administration or professional sports.

If you’d like to catch Staiger on the court, the girls will have their next home match at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 in the Ferrell Center.