FR grad leads league in kills

Paige Fortkamp was ready.

The Fort Recovery High School graduate has recorded double-digit kills in each of the University of St. Francis women’s volleyball team’s matches in the On-Set Tournament in Fort Wayne to open the season. She leads the Crossroads League in kills per set and is among the top 10 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in multiple attacking categories.

Fortkamp’s best match of the young season came Aug. 18 as she racked up 20 kills in the Cougars’ four-set win over Wayland Baptist. She also had six digs and an ace.

The junior recorded 16 kills apiece in a season-opening sweep of Rochester and a four-set victory over West Virginia University Institute of Technology. She had 11 kills for St. Francis (4-0) as it swept Oakland City on Aug. 17. She added nine digs against Rochester and four aces versus Oakland City.

Fortkamp’s average of 4.5 kills per set ranks her No. 1 in the Crossroads League and 10th in the NAIA. She is second in the league and eighth in the NAIA in total kills with 63.