United Athletic Conference

Complete release (PDF)

 

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 Ashley 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.

 

NM State leads the WAC in overall hitting percentage (.259), kills per set (13.67) and assists per set (12.60). Sam Houston leads in digs per set (17.73). Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley are both leaders in blocks per set (2.60). Meanwhile,Grand Canyon leads in service aces per set (1.82).

 

Individually, NM State's Lia Mosher leads the WAC in hitting percentage (.419), while Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz is the leader in kills per set (5.18) and points per set (5.8). Tarleton's Lorin McNeil leads the league in blocks per set (1.28) and Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco paces the WAC in digs per set (5.30). Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell is the top assister, posting 10.42 per set. Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco leads in service aces per set (0.42).

 

In WAC matches only, NM State tops in hitting percentage (.264) and assists per set (13.24), while Stephen F. Austin leads in blocks (2.94). Sam Houston leads in digs per set (18.59). Grand Canyon is the top squad in service aces per set (1.80).

 

Individually in WAC play, Stephen F. Austin's Kelsey Harrington is atop the league in hitting percentage (.431), while Tarleton's Lorin McNeil is the top blocker at 1.59 per set. Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz is the leader in kills (5.56) and points (6.2) per set. Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell leads the WAC in assists per set (10.75) and fellow Lope Teagan DeFalco is the front runner in digs per set (5.60). Luanna Emiliano of UT Rio Grande Valley and Chicago State's Jaclyn Inclan are tied for the league lead in service aces (0.45).

 

Going into the last week of conference play, a heated fight for the title is happening in both divisions.

 

Grand Canyon and NM State that are currently tied for first in the West Division are looking to win their last match of the regular season to secure the title. Both teams will be facing Chicago State, the current thrid-place, two wins by Chicago State would put them at the top of the division. California Baptist, tied in third with Chicago State, is also looking for two wins this week to top the division.

 

In the Southwest Division, current top-place holder Stephen F. Austin will host current-second place Sam Houston in a match to decide the regular season championship situation.

 

A trio of WAC programs are among the nation's best at defending home court. Grand Canyon, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin each carry home winning streaks of 10 matches or longer. Grand Canyon currently sits at 8-0 inside GCU Arena this season and is riding a 14-match win streak. Last weekend, Sam Houston won its eighth and ninth matches at home this season to push the Bearkats streak to 10 matches. Meanwhile, Stephen F. Austin carries the longest home winning streak in the WAC at 22 matches, managing a 10-0 record inside Shelton Gym this season.

 

Chicago State earned their 13th win of the season two weekends ago to give the Cougars their most wins since 1987 and eclipse the program's mark for most wins in a season since it became Division I in 1988. In an incredible turnaround, CSU finds itself just one match back of a tie for first place in the West Division after a season in which they finished 0-8 in WAC play.