TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Tarleton opposite hitter Amber Strange and NM State Libero Darian Markham have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of March 17 through March 23.
Markham, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, finished the week averaging 5.14 digs per set to lead the Aggies to a series sweep of Chicago State. Markham posted a career-high 19 digs on Monday to help NM State to a four-set win over the Cougars. In Tuesday's win, she tallied 17 digs in just three sets for a 5.67 digs per set average.
Strange, a senior from Granbury, Texas, carried the Texans to a 3-0 week including their second win of the year over Big XII opponent TCU. Against the Horned Frogs, she had a career-high 22 kills on .438 hitting. In the Texans' sweep over conference foe UTRGV, Strange averaged 4.71 kills per set on .370 hitting, including a 17-kill outing in a three-set sweep on Monday.
Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Cali Hoye led the Lancer offense with 30 kills on .371 hitting in a trio of victories… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda averaged 2.33 kills per set on .464 hitting in a pair of matches against NM State… Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell finished the week averaging 13.67 assists per set to help the Lopes split their series with Utah Valley… NM State's Katee Birtcil posted a career-high 19 kills in a four-set win over Chicago State on Monday… UT Rio Grande Valley's Victoire Nama closed out the regular season averaging 2.29 kills per set in a pair of matches against Tarleton… Utah Valley's Kendra Nock led the Wolverines with 4.33 kills per set on .321 hitting against Grand Canyon on Monday.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Paige Johnstone averaged 3.67 digs over six sets in CBU's sweeps of Northwest and Saint Martin's last week… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 17 digs in a four-set match against NM State on Monday… Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell averaged 4.33 digs per set to go along with five total blocks in the Lopes' three-set win over Utah Valley on Monday… Tarleton's Ana Costas led the Texans defensively as she averaged 3.75 digs per set in their three wins last week… UT Rio Grande Valley's Samaret Caraballo had 18 digs and a pair of blocks on Tuesday night as the Vaqueros battled with Tarleton… Utah Valley's Seren Jardine led UVU with 40 digs in a series split with Grand Canyon, averaging 6.67 digs per set on the week.