Complete Release in PDF
DENVER - Chicago State junior outside hitter Lauryn Dela Cruz has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 21-27. This is the first WAC Player of the Week honor of her career.
The Provo, Utah native posted double-doubles in all three matches last weekend, averaging a remarkable 6.50 digs to go along with 4.65 points, 4.10 kills and 0.40 service aces per set over three matches at the Leatherneck Invitational. In the first match of the tournament, a sweep of Manhattan, Dela Cruz posted 12 kills, 10 digs and two service aces. She followed it up with career highs of 18 kills, a program record 40 digs and two blocks in a four-set loss to Evansville. Dela Cruz closed out the week with 10 kills and 15 digs in a tight loss to host Western Illinois. She currently leads the WAC in digs per set, is tied for the lead in kills per set, ranks second in points per set and is eighth in service aces per set.
Other nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's Briannah Mariner averaged 2.44 kills on .265 hitting ... Claire Kovensky of Grand Canyon posted a pair of double-doubles and averaged 4.00 kills and 3.36 digs per set as the Lopes went 3-0 last week ... Kansas City's Alicia Harrington was named to the Culver Governors Challenge All-Tournament Team after averaging 3.89 kills and 4.56 digs per set last week ... Ariadnne Sierra of NM State averaged 6.36 digs per set last week ... UT Rio Grande Valley's Ragni Steen Knudsen was named to the all-tournament team at the BYU Nike Invitational after averaging 3.60 kills and 0.70 blocks per set over three matches ... Madison Dennison of Utah Valley averaged 2.67 kills and 1.58 blocks per set last week.