Alev Kelter
After proving to be one of the best 7s rugby players in the world, Alev Kelter of Eagle River has moved on to 15s.
And the result has pretty much been the same.
The 30-year-old with Saracens of the Premier 15s carried her new team to a 30-19 victory over the Bristol Bears in a matchup between the top teams in the league.
Kelter scored a season-high 15 points on a variety of touchdown tries and kicking conversions, showing off her incredible running back skills in the process.
She has a bruising style, shredding and shedding would-be tacklers.
Kelter scored the first of her three tries on a nice run in which she stiff-armed one defender before plowing over other and slamming the ball into the end zone with a two-handed spike.
⚫️🔴 @kelteralev with @SaracensWomen's first try 🥧#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/Wk3zr5bywU
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) February 27, 2022
With the victory, Saracens moved to 13-1 on the season and became the first team in the Premier 15s league to clinch a playoff spot.
Kelter signed with the elite English club in January.
“After spending the last eight years focusing on 7s, I’m grateful for the opportunity to devote myself to 15s,” Kelter said when she signed. “I’m humbled to learn from the best in the world. It doesn’t get better than playing in the Premier League.”
Twice in the month of February she was named Player of the Match.
The two-time Olympian departs the World Sevens Series to focus on earning a place at this year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Kelter has played in 36 tournaments on the Sevens circuit since making her debut in 2014. She has also racked up multiple caps for the Women’s Eagles, mostly at center, and earned selection to the World Cup team 2017.
Eagle River’s Alev Kelter runs over an opponents in England.
A multi-sport athlete growing up, the former Chugiak High and University of Wisconsin star also played for Team USA junior teams in both soccer and hockey.
Kelter had a legendary career in the World Sevens Series, ranking No. 1 among Americans and No. 4 in the world in all-time scoring with 825 points in 186 matches.
The second-highest American scorer is Naya Tapper, who ranks No. 17 in the world with 500 points.
Kelter’s 325-point lead showcases how much Team USA leans on the Alaskan for offense.
Not only is she a rugged running back capable of breaking tackles to score 4-point tries, but she kicks 2-point conversions.
Her background in flag football and soccer gives her a perfect skillset for rugby.
It's Alev Kelter's world. We're just living in it https://t.co/RkTHJ0c3v5
— Abdullah Mahmood (@AbbyDno7) February 27, 2022