The Big Ten Conference has a new all-time career leader in block assists. With a 7-block performance last weekend at home against Michigan (the 6th time this season that she’s had at least 7 blocks in a match), Illinois senior middle blocker Ali Bastianelli became the conference’s all-time career leader in block assists.
Her current total of 622 block assists surpasses the record of another former Illini player: Johannah Bangert, who had 613 from 2007-2010. When Bangert set the record, she snuck 1 past Wisconsin’s Heather Dodaro, who had 612 from 1994-1997.
This is the second of Bangert’s records that Bastianelli has snapped in 2018, following the Illinois career total blocks mark.
Bastianelli is the NCAA’s active leader in block assists by more than 100, with 2nd-best being Wyoming senior Reed Copeland; and has a 73-total block advantage over Missouri’s Alyssa Munlyn among active players.
The 6’3″ middle from Michigan has 678 total career blocks, which ranks her 5th all-time in the Big Ten. With 4 more, she’ll surpass Christa Harmotto and Heather Dodaro for 3rd place, and it would then be another 50+ blocks to catch the top 2. Given that Bastianelli is averaging well-over 5 blocks/match this season, the total blocks record is within reach with 9 regular season matches plus the NCAA tournament remaining.
The NCAA doesn’t publish career records for blocks because of some uncertainty about how the statistic was tracked prior to 2001.
Big Ten Career Leaders, Block Assists:
- Ali Bastianelli, Illinois, 2015-present – 622
- Johannah Bangert, Illinois, 2007-2010 – 613
- Heather Dodaro, Wisconsin, 1994-1997 – 612
- Terri Zemaitis, Penn State, 1994-1997 – 608
- Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State, 1996-1999 – 606
- Taylor Reineke, Wisconsin, 2004-2007 – 604
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