TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Stephen F. Austin outside hitter Leah Powell and Sam Houston defensive specialist Hannah Baker have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of September 27 through October 3. Additionally, Baker was also named WAC Freshman of the Week.
Powell, a sophomore from Copperas Cove, Texas, was nearly unstoppable last week as she led the Ladyjacks to a pair of sweeps to remain undefeated in WAC play. On the week, Powell posted a .439 hitting percentage with just one error as she averaged 3.17 kills per set. In the sweep of Tarleton, she managed 12 kills on an astounding .611 hitting percentage. This also marks the fifth time this season that Powell has reached double digit kills, despite averaging just over 22 swings per set.
Baker, a freshman from Deer Park, Texas, reigned in two awards this week as she led the Bearkats to a 2-0 start in league play. She anchored the Kats back line as she turned in back-to-back 24-dig outings, helping Sam Houston win six of seven sets last week. In addition to averaging 6.86 digs per set, Baker also recorded six assists and four service aces. On the season, her 5.12 digs per set continue to pace the WAC in that category.
Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Christine Graf averaged 2.75 kills per set, including 14 total kills in the Lancers' big win over NM State… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz managed 5.43 kills per set on .214 hitting as the Cougars finished the week with record of 1-1… Grand Canyon's Annabelle Kubinski hit a .355 clip as she averaged 2.83 kills per set to lead the Lopes to a pair of sweeps last week… NM State's Lia Mosher added to her impressive efficiency numbers as she posted 2.75 kills per set on .500 hitting across a pair of Aggie matches… Sam Houston's Morgan Janda averaged 12.00 assists per set while adding 10 total kills in the Kats' perfect week… Seattle U's Eve Kerschenbaum tallied back-to-back double-digit kill matches, finishing with 10 against NM State and 13 against GCU… Tarleton's Lauren Kersey finished the week averaging 4.00 kills per set on .317 hitting to lead the Texans in both categories… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz turned in a dominant performance against Lamar, finishing with 12 kills on just 21 swings to lead the Vaqueros to a sweep… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa helped push the Wolverines to a four-set win over Chicago State as she recorded 18 kills on .395 hitting.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Paige Johnstone averaged 5.13 digs per set, including 27 total digs in the Lancers' come-from-behind win over NM State on Saturday… Chicago State's Mesalina Severino secured eight blocks last week, highlighted by a five-block outing in a sweep of Dixie State… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco posted 40 total digs across just six sets to average 6.67 digs per set in the Lopes' pair of sweeps last week… Stephen F. Austin's Kayla Grant tallied 1.33 blocks per set for SFA in a pair of WAC sweeps… Tarleton's Ana Costas ended the week averaging 4.86 digs per set as she recorded 34 total digs across two matches… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luisa Silva Dos Santos registered a career-high eight blocks in the Vaqueros sweep last week… Utah Valley's Kristen Bell matched a career high with 18 digs while also adding a pair of blocks in the Wolverines' win over Chicago State.
Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska logged 11 kills on .226 hitting in a pair of matches with Grand Canyon and NM State… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda filled up the stat sheet, finishing the week with 18 kills, six blocks, four aces, three assists and three digs across two matches… Grand Canyon's McKenzie Wise helped lead the Lopes past California Baptist and Seattle U as she averaged 3.17 kills on .220 hitting… Seattle U's Katlyn Sipes averaged 4.50 digs per set last week as she notched back-to-back double-digit dig performances… Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado helped SFA to a pair of sweeps as she averaged 3.17 kills per set on .280 hitting to go along with 2.50 digs per set… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant posted six kills and seven digs for the Texans last week… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano helped in the Vaquero sweep of Lamar as she averaged 9.0 assists and 1.33 digs per set… Utah Valley's Natalie Palmer finished one dig shy of a double-double as she registered 16 assists and nine digs in the Wolverines' win over Chicago State.