For our 100th anniversary, The Collegian is bringing back a former feature, Athlete of the Month, to recognize Fresno State student-athletes. 

Fresno State volleyball’s outside hitter Ella Rud set her place on the courts for the month of September. 

Rud recently led her team in kills for the eighth time during Fresno State’s game against Nevada, while also reaching double figure kills for the ninth time. 

During the game against the Spartans, Rud scratched her sixth double-double of the season, setting a new season best with a team-high 17 digs. 

She entered the Fresno State Invitational ranked third in the conference in attacks per set. The returning sophomore appeared in 26 matches last season, played 95 sets and was ranked fourth on the team with 161 kills, averaging 1.69 kills per set. 

Rud hit her season high of 21 kills in August, right in the beginning of the season. 

Last season, Rud hit her season high of 16 kills in late October against San Jose State and recently reached her season high of total blocks per game, blocking three potentials against San Jose State.

 In total thus far, Rud passed her total number of kills from last year with 179. 
The Arizona native was a three-year letter winner at Perry High School in Gilbert, AZ. She finished her freshman season racking up 210 points for the Bulldogs, right now she’s on track to reaching the record with 120 points.