TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Tarleton right side hitter Lauren Kersey and Stephen F. Austin middle blocker Kelsey Harrington have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 25 through Oct. 31. Stephen F. Austin also brought in WAC Freshman of the Week honors as Valeria Rosado tabbed that award.
Kersey, a senior from Norman, Okla., carried the Texans to a pair of sweeps last week as she averaged 3.56 kills per set on a .406 hitting percentage. In a non-conference battle with Incarnate Word on Tuesday, Kersey produced 13 kills on just 25 swings to mark the 10th time in Tarleton's last 11 games she has led the team in kills. She hit over .400 again in Saturday's sweep of Abilene Christian as she tallied 12 kills on 27 attacks.
Harrington, a junior from Midland, Texas, dominated at the net to lead the Ladyjacks past Lamar and UT Rio Grande Valley last week. She totaled 16 blocks over seven sets to average 2.29 blocks per set. Harrington's week was highlighted by a career-high 11 blocks in a competitive four-set victory over UTRGV. Against the Vaqueros, Harrington contributed half of the single-match team blocks record across four sets in NCAA Division I this season as the 'Jacks registered 22 total blocks.
Rosado, an outside hitter from Deltona, Fla., continued to stand out for the 'Jacks as she averaged 3.86 kills per set on .302 hitting to go along with nine total digs and six total blocks. In Thursday's sweep of Lamar, Rosado notched 15 kills with a .560 hitting percentage. She also added a trio of service aces in the 'Jacks 2-0 week.
Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Tesa Oaks posted 19 total kills on .263 hitting last week as she led the Lancers in points with 23.5 in a pair of wins… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz totaled 39 kills to average 5.57 kills per set during the Cougars' road trip… Grand Canyon's Ashley Lifgren averaged 3.33 kills per set on .280 in the Lopes' West Coast trip… NM State's Katie Birtcil had a monster night on Thursday against California Baptist, finishing with 22 kills on .364 hitting… Stephen F. Austin's Leah Powell posted 21 total kills to average 3.00 kills per set on a .340 hitting percentage… Sam Houston's Ashley Lewis recorded a pair of double-doubles that included 31 total kills on .263 hitting to help the Bearkats finish 2-0 on the week… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz turned in back-to-back 20-kill performances last week as she averaged 4.80 kills per set across 10 sets… Utah Valley's Kaili Downs led UVU with a season-high 10 kills on .471 hitting in the Wolverines lone match last week.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Chandler Gorman averaged 1.43 blocks per set with 10 over seven sets to lead the Lancers to an undefeated week… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon finished the week averaging 2.29 digs per set… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco managed 4.67 digs per set last week as she recorded 28 total digs across six sets… NM State's Lia Mosher came up with 1.00 rejections per set as the Aggies traveled to Seattle U and California Baptist… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant led the Bearkats on the defensive end, posting 11 total blocks in just seven sets… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil added 16 kills to her total last week as she leads the WAC and ranks fourth nationally in total blocks with 112… UT Rio Grande Valley's Evana Ramos recorded a career-high 26 digs in the Vaqueros five-set win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday… Utah Valley's Kendra Nock led UVU with a career-high 10 blocks in a crucial win over Chicago State on Saturday.
Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Bryley Steinhilber turned in career-highs in both kills (16) and hitting percentage (.325) in the Wildcats home match against Tarleton… California Baptist's Laura Walewska posted 1.43 kills per set to go along with six total blocks last week… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda tallied 10 kills and five blocks across seven sets last week… NM State's Alana Embry dished out double-digit assists in each of the Aggies' two matches last week while also adding three aces from the service line… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant chipped in seven kills and seven blocks in the Kats 3-1 win over UTRGV… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano put together three double-doubles last week as she averaged 9.62 assists per set and 3.08 digs per set for the Vaqueros… Utah Valley's Natalie Palmer led the Wolverines with 19 assists in a win over Chicago State on Saturday.