TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Chicago State outside hitter Yanlis Feliz and Grand Canyon libero Teagan DeFalco have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Nov. 1 through 7. UT Rio Grande Valley setter Luanna Emiliano tabbed the WAC Freshman of the Week honors.
Feliz, a redshirt-sophomore from Pedernales, Dominican Republic, had a whopping offensive week tallying a total of 56 kills to average 7.00 per set this past week. Thirty-nine of those kills came from the Cougars' match against California Baptist, where they came out on top of a five-set match on Thursday. Feliz is now third in the NCAA Division I in kills per set with 5.18.
DeFalco, a graduate student from Long Beach, Calif, kept the ball off the floor and totaled 47 digs to average 6.71 per set to contribute to the Lopes' two wins this past week. She also proved efficient offensively, recording a total of six assists and tallying five aces from the service line, which was most in the WAC this past week.
Emiliano, from Belo Horizon, Brazil, recorded a monster 32 assists to average 10.67 per game in Saturday's three-set win over Lamar. She also tallied three service aces and showed versatility with 10 digs and a block. Emiliano now has 19 double-double this season.
Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Jada Birkel totaled 28 kills to average 4.00 per set contributing to Thursday's 3-1 win over Sam Houston … California Baptist's Scherine Dahoue totaled 19 kills to average 3.80 per set on the Lancers' home match against Chicago State, Thursday … Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell recorded a total of 89 assists in two matches, while setting a GCU record with 43 in a three-set match … NM State's Katie Birtcil totaled 33 kills to average 4.71 per set becoming the Aggies' main offensive contributor to rack two wins this past week … Sam Houston's Ashely Lewis totaled 39 kills to average 39 per set, contributing to the Beakats' Saturday road win over Tarleton … Tarleton's Lauren Kersey had a monster 44-kill week averaging 4.40 per set contributing to a home win over Stephen F. Austin, Thursday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz totaled 154 kills to average 4.67 per set on Saturday's home win over Lamar … Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa is now second in UVU all-time kills after recording a total of 36 averaging 4.50 per set this past week.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Chandler Gorman totaled nine blocks over the course of five sets … Chicago State's Melisana Severino totaled 11 blocks to average 1.38 per set while also racking a total of 13 kills … Sam Houston's Hannah Baker topped past week's record of digs with 51 to average 5.67 per set … Tarleton's Lorin McNeil added 17 kills to her total last week as she leads the WAC and ranks third nationally in total blocks with 129 … UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano recorded 10 blocks while excelling her duty as a setter with 32 assists in three sets.
Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Bryley Steinhilber led the team with 14 kills in Thursday's home win over Sam Houston … California Baptist's Laura Walewska posted a season high of 2.40 kills per set to go along with five total blocks and four digs in Thursday's five-set match at Chicago State … Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda tallied nine kills and six blocks across eight sets last week … Grand Canyon's Ashley Lifgren totaled 27 kills to average 3.86 per set while also tallying a total of 20 digs … Sam Houston's Hannah Baker got nominated twice as she topped past week's record of digs with 51 to average 5.67 per set … Seattle U's Katlyn Sipes totaled 26 digs to average 8.67 per set.