TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Grand Canyon setter Klaire Mitchell and Libero Teagan DeFalco have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 18 through Oct. 24. The Lopes also brought in WAC Freshman of the Week honors as McKenzie Wise tabbed that award.
Mitchell, a junior setter from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, earned top offensive honors as she led the Lopes to a 2-0 week behind 14.00 assists per set in the Grand Canyon WAC Pod last week. On Thursday, Mitchell finished with 38 total assists to lead GCU to a sweep of Sam Houston. She then had a monster performance on Saturday as she tallied a career-best 60 assists in a four-set win over Stephen F. Austin. Her outing against the Ladyjacks also marked the third-most assists in a four-set match across all Division I play this season.
DeFalco, a graduate student from Long Beach, Calif., played a vital part in GCU's perfect weekend, finishing with 50 total digs to average 7.14 digs per set across two matches. In Saturday's contest with Stephen F. Austin, she posted a season-high 31 digs in just four sets. On the season, DeFalco averages over five digs per set to rank first in the WAC.
Wise, an outside hitter from Phoenix, Ariz., turned in back-to-back double-doubles last week to help the Lopes maintain their undefeated record in GCU Arena. Wise was productive on both sides of the net as she notched 5.00 kills per set and 3.43 digs per set over a pair of matches. She also added four blocks and three service aces on her way to picking up her second WAC Freshman of the Week award this season.
Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Breanna Box reached career-high kill totals in consecutive matches last week, finishing with 14 kills on Friday and 15 kills on Saturday… California Baptist's Tesa Oaks led the Lancers to a pair of victories as she averaged more than three kills a set while adding four service aces on the week… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz dominated last week, recording 6.14 kills per set on an impressive .355 hitting to help the Cougars go undefeated in the Lamar WAC Pod… Dixie State's Hannah Howard led the Trailblazer offense last week, averaging 4.00 kills per set across eight sets… NM State's Katie Birtcil helped the Aggies go 1-1 last week as she secured 5.43 kills per set on .352 hitting… Tarleton's Lauren Kersey had one of the best nights of her season in Saturday's sweep of Dixie State, finishing with 5.67 kills per set on .424 hitting… UT Rio Grande Valley's Veronika Jandova posted 3.00 kills per set on .477 hitting to lead the way for the Vaqueros… Sam Houston's Catherine Krieger finished the week averaging 3.10 kills per set on .253 hitting to help the Bearkats to a 2-1 record last week… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa finished with 28 total kills in just seven sets to lead the Wolverines last week.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Paige Johnstone registered 47 total digs last week to average 5.22 digs per set over nine sets… Chicago State's Mesalina Severino had back-to-back two-block outings last week for the Cougars… NM State's Lia Mosher controlled the net for the Aggies as she logged 10 total blocks across two matches… Sam Houston's Hannah Baker recorded 4.30 digs per set across a trio of Bearkat matches last week… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil set a career-high in total blocks on Friday against California Baptist, finishing with nine stuffs in just four sets… UT Rio Grande Valley's Veronika Jandova averaged one block a set last week as she totaled four blocks in each of the Vaqueros matches… Utah Valley's Bryton Bishop led UVU with 4.86 digs per set over a pair of matches last week.
Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska accumulated 16 kills and seven blocks in a pair of Lancer victories last week… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda finished the week with 17 kills on .429 hitting to go along with a trio of blocks… Dixie State's Hannah Howard totaled 32 kills last week, including a career-high 22 kills in Friday's sweep of Abilene Christian… Sam Houston's Hannah Baker finished with 30 digs, nine assists and four service aces in the Bearkats' two wins last week… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano recorded her WAC-leading 15th double-double of the season in a win over Seattle U on Friday… Utah Valley's Natalie Palmer averaged 4.57 assists per set over two matches last week.