TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – NM State outside hitter Katie Birtcil and Stephen F. Austin middle blocker Taya Mitchell have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of September 20 through September 26. Stephen F. Austin also garnered WAC Freshman of the Week honors as Valeria Rosado has earned the award for the Ladyjacks.
Birtcil, a junior from Tucson, Ariz., helped lead the Aggies to a perfect 2-0 start in WAC play as she finished the week averaging 4.75 kills per with a .293 hitting percentage. Birtcil was instrumental in the Aggies' four-set road win over defending WAC Tournament Champion Utah Valley as she recorded a career-high 24 kills to go along with three service aces. She followed that performance with a 14-kill outing against Dixie State. Birtcil also posted 5.4 points per set, helping NM State extend its winning streak to eight matches.
Mitchell, a graduate student from Rowlett, Texas, was a dominant force at the net for the 'Jacks, tallying 2.33 blocks per set as SFA went 2-0 on the week. Mitchell made an impressive entrance to WAC play as she notched 11-blocks to lead the 'Jacks to a four-set win over a tough UT Rio Grande Valley squad. Her 11 blocks also mark the most from any WAC player in a single match this season. Mitchell also leads the conference in blocks per set at 1.32 for the season.
Rosado, an outside hitter from Deltona, Fla., also played a big part in Stephen F. Austin's perfect week as she posted double-digit kills in back-to-back matches this week while hitting at a .385 clip. In the 'Jacks sweep of Prairie View, Rosado recorded the first double-double of her collegiate career, finishing with 11 kills and 10 digs. Against the Panthers, she also had zero hitting errors to finish with a .647 hitting percentage for the match. She then finished with 11 kills and eight total digs against the Vaqueros on Saturday.
Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Breanna Box paced the Wildcats in kills in their lone match last week as she finished with 11 kills on .409 hitting… California Baptist's Christine Graf led CBU's offense with 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage in a sweep of Chicago State… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz posted 5.00 kills per set last week, including 6.33 kills per set in a sweep of Seattle U… Dixie State's Megan Treanor averaged 3.14 kills per set as she led the Trailblazers' offense with 22 total kills on .316 hitting… Grand Canyon's Annabelle Kubinski posted season-highs in kills (11), points (15), digs (3) and aces (2) in a five-set win over Utah Valley… Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado averaged 3.14 kills per set in addition to posting four aces last week… Tarleton's Kayla Brannon recorded 33 total assists last week to become the third player in Tarleton program history to reach 2,500 career assists… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz notched a career-high 28 kills while maintaining a .400 hitting percentage against Stephen F. Austin… Utah Valley's Kendra Nock finished with a team-high 15 points and 10 kills on a .563 hitting percentage against GCU last week.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska tallied four of CBU's seven blocks in the win over Chicago State on Saturday… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 4.50 digs per set last week to help the Cougars finish the week with a 1-1 record… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco totaled 39 digs for the Lopes, 22 of which came in GCU's five-set win over Utah Valley… NM State's Carly Aigner-Swesey averaged 4.13 digs per set and turned in three blocks against Utah Valley… Tarleton's Hali-a Swartman-Hogan racked up a career-high four total blocks in both of Tarleton's victories last week… UT Rio Grande Valley Evana Ramos managed two of her best performances as a Vaquero, posting 17 digs against UTEP and a career-high 21 digs against Stephen F. Austin… Utah Valley's Sadie Hamson posted 13 blocks against GCU to lead the Wolverines to a school-record 22.5 blocks on Saturday.
Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska averaged 1.33 kills per set and 1.33 blocks per set in the Lancers' win over Chicago State… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 4.67 digs per set and 1.33 assists per set in the sweep of Seattle U… Grand Canyon's McKenzie Wise notched 16 kills and five service aces in the Lopes big win over Utah Valley… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant came away from the week averaging 2.00 kill per set and 1.71 digs per set in addition to recording four aces and three assists… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano recorded her 10th and 11th double-doubles of the season as she posted 10.38 assists per set and 2.88 digs per set on the week… Utah Valley's Jules Fink finished with double-digit scoring in both matches for the Wolverines while also recording a career-high 10 blocks against GCU on Saturday.