Second to None: D-II's Top Blocker, C-N's Nikki James

Nikki James Blocking Highlights

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Statistically, no one was better than Carson-Newman's Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) this season.

The Lady Eagles' middle blocker finished the 2010 season as the national leader in blocks, topping NCAA Division II statistics with a 1.73 block per set average in leading the her squad in a second consecutive NCAA Tournament second round berth.

Despite the success and dominance on the court, James remains humble and refuses any personal credit.

"It is just a blessing and amazing to play a sport," James said. "It is a great feeling to be the number one blocker in the nation, but I have to give all credit to God."

James, a junior, led the nation by a convincing and impressive margin. Her 1.73 blocks per set bested Abilene Christian's Shawna Hines' 1.41 per set.

As a team, the Lady Eagles were second nationally behind Grand Valley State as a team, finishing just two hundredths (.02) behind the Lakers. James accounted for more than half of her team's solo blocks and a third of the team's block assists, a statistic that isn't lost on her coach.

"We establish our defensive system around our blocking abilities and Nikki James is a major part of that," C-N head coach Shannon Mincey said. "I am thrilled that Nikki could be recognized as the top blocker in D-II and as well that our team would be second in the nation."

James, a second team All-SAC selection and American Volleyball Coaches' Association All-Region Honorable Mention selection this season, has been a force in all three of her seasons at C-N. She led the SAC as a freshman in blocks per game and was third in the category as a sophomore.

Next season, James will try to join Wingate's Molly Kerns (2003-'06) as the SAC's only three-time statistical champion in blocks per game. Practice and her teammates have been the catalysts for her emergence as one of nation's top forces at the net.

"My teammates are amazing," James said. "We give each other an amazing amount of support. We're always there to pick each other up."

Blocking against Carly Mozgai (Greensboro, N.C.), one of the top outside hitters in Carson-Newman history, has certainly pushed her to improve. Mozgai earned all-region and All-Southeast Regional Tournament team honors this season, but maybe most importantly she pushed her teammates, especially, James, every day in practice.

"(Carly) is so tough," James said. "She would leave bruises on me from practice. She was a tough read and just having to be on other side of her so often made me a much more complete player."

James is selfless when it comes to attention to the attention she draws through eye-popping statistics and numerous awards, but her raw play-making ability isn't downplayed quite as quickly by her coach.  

"There are times in practice when an attacker will hit from the back row and Nikki jumps up with one arm going and finds the ball and then swipes it down and everyone laughs about how unreal it was," Mincey said. "When Nikki is on the front row she'll ask 'What are we blocking coach?' and I always say, 'Nikki you just block the ball.' What has been really neat to see is our entire team's blocking abilities are elevated because Nikki is so enthusiastic about it."

James' blocking has been maybe the biggest factor in the two most successful postseason stretches in Carson-Newman's volleyball history. She was at her best at the end of the year, amassing a career-high 21 kills in a SAC Tournament win against Catawba, and she continued her dominant play in maybe the most memorable win in school history.

The Lady Eagles beat rival Tusculum to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in November, thanks in large part to a dominant effort by James. She finished the match, a 3-1 C-N win, with seven block solos and four block assists, and was named to the NCAA Southeast Region All-Tournament Team for her efforts.

The win over Tusculum marked the second-straight season C-N had won in the NCAA Tournament, the first two NCAA wins in program history. Still, postseason wins, not the individual numbers, remain at the top of James' list of goals. 

"I think the focus has become more and more intense," James said of C-N's continual improvement and NCAA runs during her career. "We're all looking toward the same goal, which is to be better next season. We each know we have to play our roles. It's not about keeping up with the stats. It's about the things that aren't on the stat sheet like hustle and saves and the team celebrations. The celebrations are the moments you keep with you."