Bradley University Athletics

Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX: Lindsay Stalzer

Volleyball 10/23/2022 1:15:00 PM

Peoria, Ill. - From the hallways of Kewanee High School in Northwest Illinois to the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame, it's been a wildly exciting ride for Bradley Volleyball alum, Lindsay Stalzer.

Stalzer is widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes in Bradley University's history. Named the Missouri Valley Conference's Player of the Year in 2005, Stalzer racked up 1,948 career kills, a number that stood for 12 years. She still holds the single-season kills record, with her 720 kills in 2005 leading the way.

It seemed as if the ability to jump up at the net for nearly 2,000 kills was in the cards from very early on. Stalzer was an Illinois State champion high jumper during her prep years, medaling in nine different events at the state finals for the Kewanee Boilermakers.

From there, Stalzer returned to Peoria, the city of her birth, to play for the Braves in 2003. Bradley fans were graced with a double-figure kills performance for the first time when the then-freshman pounded 25 kills against Bowling Green in September 2003, a number which still remains on the conference's all-time leaderboard. In the 2005 campaign, Stalzer would best that already impressive number, bringing in 36 kills at DePaul, tied for third in Valley history.

While leading The Valley in kills during both her junior and senior seasons, Stalzer also paced the league in aces during her senior season in 2005.

A 6-foot-1 middle blocker, Stalzer was the only three-time, first-team All-MVC selection in Bradley Volleyball history until Hannah Thompson became the second in 2021.

Time has certainly passed since Lindsay Stalzer hit the court in Peoria, but one thing has remained a constant - the sport of volleyball. Stalzer has gone on to have a professional volleyball career for over 10 years, including an expansive role with the volleyball division of Athletes Unlimited. This network of women's professional sports leagues was founded by, among others, Stalzer, back in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

In the Athletes Unlimited league, she has also averaged 2.09 kills per set, including a season-high 17 kills in early April 2022.

Stalzer was also named to the United States National Team in 2021. That opportunity has led to honors such as a bronze medal at the 2021 Pan-American Cup.

She was inducted into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2016-2017 class.

In recognition of the anniversary signing date of Title IX on June 23, 1972, women significant to the history of Bradley University Athletics representing each of our women's teams and department support areas will be spotlighted on the 23rd of each month. Check out our previous features below: