DENVER – Missouri-Kansas City junior libero Taryn Miller has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 8-14. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Blue Springs, Mo., native averaged 7.41 digs, 0.82 assists and 0.35 service aces per set over four matches last week. Miller opened the week with 22 digs and two assists in a four-set loss to No. 24 Kansas. Over the weekend, she was named MVP of the CEFCU Classic after averaging an astounding 8.00 digs, 0.92 assists and 0.46 service aces per set and leading the ‘Roos to the tournament title with a perfect 3-0 record. Miller finished with 30 digs in three straight matches for the first time in her career, posting 35 against North Dakota State, 31 at Bradley and a career-high 38 vs. Miami (Ohio). The 38 digs was a Renaissance Coliseum record. Miller now sits in third place on the UMKC career digs list with 1,326, 10 digs shy of second place.
Other nominees included: Essence Jackson-Jones of Chicago State averaged 2.46 kills on .345 hitting to go along with 1.38 blocks as the Cougars went 4-0 on the week ... Grand Canyon’s Mackenzie Phelps led the Antelopes to a 2-1 record at the Lumberjack Classic and was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 4.83 digs per set over three matches ... Hannah Walker of New Mexico State averaged 6.83 digs per set as the Aggies went 0-2 against two ranked opponents last week ... Seattle U’s Matea Mamic earned a spot on the all-tournament team at the Washington/Seattle U Tournament after averaging 3.11 kills on .268 hitting and 0.44 digs per set over three matches ... Haley Durham of Texas-Pan American earned all-tournament honors at the Louisiana Tech Invitational after averaging 3.92 kills on .378 hitting to go along with 0.67 blocks per set ... Utah Valley’s McKenna Tait earned all-tournament team honors at the Mean Green Classic after averaging 4.00 digs, 0.93 service aces and 0.57 assists per set.