TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced
DENVER – Following a pair of dominant performances, Dixie State middle blocker Kate Hardy has been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive, Defensive and Freshman Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of October 4 through October 10.
Hardy, a freshman from Fruitland, Idaho, impressed in all facets of the game as she helped lead the Trailblazers to their first two road wins of the season. On the offensive attack, she averaged 5.7 points per set behind 4.00 kills per set on .571 hitting. Hardy also added three service aces and recorded just four hitting errors. Defensively, she racked up 16 total blocks across seven sets to average a league-best 2.29 blocks per set last week. In Thursday's 3-1 win over California Baptist, Hardy posted a career-high 19 kills and racked up seven total blocks. She followed that performance with a nine-kill, nine-block outing in a 3-0 sweep of Seattle U on Saturday. On the season, Hardy ranks third in blocks per set, averaging 1.3 per set. She also ranks among the WAC's best in league play as she is fourth in hitting percentage (.338) and second in blocks per set (1.65) in WAC matches.
Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Madison Rohre notched her third 50-plus assist match of the year against UTRGV on her way to posting 81 total assists on the week… California Baptist's Christine Graf totaled 19 kills on .227 hitting across a pair of matches last week… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz averaged 4.40 kills per set, including 21 total kills in the Cougars' thrilling win over Grand Canyon… NM State's Lia Mosher continued her efficient play, posting 2.60 kills per set on .524 hitting in the Aggies' lone match last week… Sam Houston's Ashley Lewis recorded a double-double last week, putting together 13 kills and 12 digs in the Kats' sweep of Stephen F. Austin… Tarleton's Lauren Kersey led the Texans with 29 total kills last week to average 3.63 kills per set in a pair of WAC matches… UT Rio Grande Valley Sarah Cruz turned in her sixth double-double of the season, coming away from the Vaqueros' five-set victory over Abilene Christian with 23 kills and 15 digs… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa averaged 4.00 kills per set on .317 hitting to help lead the Wolverines to an undefeated weekend.
Other defensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Madison Lawler recorded a season-high 30 digs against UTRGV on her way to averaging 5.78 digs per set on the week… California Baptist's Chandler Gorman finished the week with eight total blocks with seven rejections coming against Dixie State… Chicago State's Mesalina Severino had an astounding 11-block outing in Saturday's victory over GCU… NM State's Darian Markham anchored the Aggies' back line as she tallied 32 total digs in a five-set win over Chicago State on Thursday… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant controlled the net against Stephen F. Austin, posting six total blocks in just three sets… Tarleton's Ana Costas notched a season-high 23 digs in a four-set win over Lamar… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luisa Silva Dos Santos produced a career-high 10 blocks to help the Vaqueros earn the road win over Abilene Christian… Utah Valley's Sadie Hamson managed a pair of five-block matches last week to average 1.67 blocks per set.
Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Braden Bossier notched eight block assists in back-to-back matches for the Wildcats last week… California Baptist's Laura Walewska turned in five kills on .273 hitting in the Lancers' lone match of the week… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda posted 12 kills on .250 hitting while adding five total blocks and five total assists… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant added three kills, two digs and 6.5 points to her impressive defensive showing against Stephen F. Austin… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano shined last week, recording 96 total assists and 27 total digs to lead UTRGV to a pair of road wins… Utah Valley's Jules Fink averaged 2.00 kills per set on .306 hitting, including seven kills on .500 hitting in a win over California Baptist.