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The National Christian School Athletic Association has selected Turlock Christian's Senior Jill Baker as this years National Player of the Year and All-American First Team for Division I schools. Congratulations Jill - We are so proud of you!
All-Americans were chosen from among finalists, based on this season's statistics and achievements;
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going down with a grade 3 ankle sprain early in the 2nd game of the NorCal Playoff game against Champion Christian. When her team lost that game, she asked her coach to tape her ankle and reinsert her in the lineup for game 3. Playing essentially on one leg, she led her team back to a 3/1 victory in that match. She went through intense physical therapy for the next 5 days to prepare for the next match against Castilleja. Knowing that playing in that match would significantly set back
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competitive strength of team schedule; level of skill; and other significant factors that were shared during the nomination process. Jill will be featured in an upcoming issue of Passion in Play.
Despite Jill's statistical accomplishments, her greatest strength is as a consumate team player. She plays a selfless style of volleyball, focusing on team success over her individual statistics. While her club experience has been as a middle blocker, she was willing to switch to outside hitter her junior and senior years at Turlock Christian for the benefit of her team. She also plays with great heart, desire and courage. With her heart set on reaching State Division 5 finals, she had the great dissappointment of
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Statistics
Most Kills in a Match:
28 in 2005
Most Kills in a Season:
467 in 2005
Most Digs in a Season:
428 in 2005
Most Aces in a Season:
124 in 2004
Most Blocks in a Season:
85 in 2003
School Records
Kills: 1044
Digs: 1009
Aces: 317
Blocks: 193
Maxpreps.com Statistics
#10 in the state in kills with 467
#11 in the state in digs with 428
#43 in the state in aces with 88
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her ankle rehad, she played anyway through much pain, putting her team first.
Jill's character as a person and a competitor goes much
deeper than just volleyball. 5 years ago her oldest brother, Jordan, collapsed and died suddenly while attending Azusa Pacific University. Through much pain, healing, and spiritual growth, Jill has developed a perspective of life that goes well beyond her years. While being heavily recruited by over 100 division I universities this past year, Jill determined that her final decision depended on whether she felt God was calling her to be a "light on a secular campus or a leader at a Christian school." In the end, she decided that God was calling her to be a leader. She turned down scholarship offers to Baylore, Colorado State University, University of Houston, and many other division I programs.
She has chosen to attend Azusa Pacific next year. Her brother's memory will be her inspiration.
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NEW HS CAMPUS 
