Volleyball Voices

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Bowman Earns Third SBC Defensive Player of the Week Award

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Bowman Earns Third SBC Defensive Player of the Week Award

JONESBORO, Ark. (10/19/09) – For the third time this season, Arkansas
State senior libero Heather Bowman has been named Sun Belt Conference
Defensive Player of the Week as voted on by the league’s 13 head
coaches.

“Heather has been very consistent in providing what we need
defensively, and on top of that, she is a tremendous serve receiver
for us,” said ASU head coach Justin Ingram.  “She deserves credit for
doing great things.”

Bowman notched 74 digs to lead the Red Wolves’ defensive effort as
they went 2-1 in SBC action last weekend, topping Louisiana-Lafayette
and ULM at the ASU Convocation Center.  She posted a weekend-high of
31 digs in ASU’s five-set loss to New Orleans Saturday and added four
service aces in ASU’s 3-0 victory over the Warhawks Sunday afternoon.

The Fort Smith native averaged 6.17 digs per set in the three matches
last weekend and currently leads the league in that category,
averaging 5.67 on the year and 5.32 against SBC opponents.  Bowman’s
5.67 average also ranks seventh in the NCAA.

Bowman and the Red Wolves will hit the hardwood again when they travel
to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on Florida Atlantic Friday, Oct. 23.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Roth Awarded A-10 Player of the Week Honors

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8:  Roth Awarded A-10 Player of the Week Honors  

Needs 25 assists to reach 5,000 for her career

 

         ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis senior Whitney Roth (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) garnered Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week honors Monday after leading the Billikens with 4.25 digs and 12.50 assists per set on the road last weekend. It is the second such honor of her career. 

 

         Roth dished out 34 assists and collected eight digs in SLU’s win at Xavier last Friday. Less than 24 hours later at Dayton, the Billikens’ career assists leader registered a career- and match-high 26 digs and recorded a season-best 66 assists to go with three kills. Roth’s dig and assist totals against the Flyers are also the most by a Billiken this season. She leads SLU with six double-doubles this season.

 

         Roth became SLU’s career assists leader last season. With 4,975 career assists, she is bidding to become just the fourth player among the current A-10 programs to compile 5,000 career assists. This season, Rothleads the league with 10.98 assists in all matches and 11.96 assists in A-10 tilts. She has been the A-10 assists leader the past two seasons en route to consecutive A-10 Setter of the Year honors. Roth, a 2008 AVCA All-America honorable mention selection, has played in every match for Saint Louis since she started the 2006 season opener as a freshman, 114 straight contests.

 

         The No. 24 Billikens will look to rebound from their first conference regular-season loss in nearly two years when La Salle and Temple come to town this weekend. SLU faces the Explorers Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Chaifetz Pavilion before taking on the Temple Owls Sunday at 1 p.m.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: REDSHIRT FRESHMAN KRABACHER GRABS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8:  REDSHIRT FRESHMAN KRABACHER GRABS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS 

PHILADELPHIA – University of Dayton redshirt outside hitter Rachel Krabacher was named Rookie of the Week by the Atlantic 10 after leading the Flyers in kills per set over the weekend as the Flyers improved to 18-2 and 7-0 in the Atlantic 10 to earn sole possession of first place in the conference.

Krabacher returned to the lineup after being sidelined with a broken foot for the first half of the season. Her presence was immediately felt, as the 6-4 Cincinnati native averaged 3.25 kills per set and had an even stronger showing against then-No. 20 Saint Louis.

Against the Billikens, Krabacher picked up 16 kills and 16 digs while piling up a .284 hitting percentage. She also added two service aces and three block assists in the match.

The Flyers have had at least one weekly awards recipient in six of the eight weeks an award has been presented by the league.

The Flyers travel to Charlotte to face the 49ers at 7:00 p.m. ET on Oct. 24 and George Washington on Oct. 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: WHITNEY NAMED CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: WHITNEY NAMED CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University junior middle blocker Anissa Whitney was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced today by the conference office.

The award is the third of the season for Whitney, who was previously named to the all-tournament teams at the CenturyTel Premier and at the Seton Hall University Invitational.

Whitney had an incredible week for the Pride as she totaled 21 kills (second on the team) on 39 attempts with no errors for a .538 hitting percentage.  The transfer from Temple was not just a force offensively, though, as she also tallied a team-high 13 blocks in Hofstra's three matches for an average of 1.44 per set.

This season, Whitney ranks second on the Pride in kills (175), first in attack percentage (.213) and first in blocks (84; 0.97 per set).  She had eight kills and five blocks versus Long Island and nine kills and five blocks versus James Madison.

Hofstra (8-16, 3-4 CAA) is back in action on Friday when they travel to Virginia Commonwealth.  The Pride will also face William & Mary on Saturday down in Williamsburg.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Tori Beckman Named To Collegiate Volleyball Top Performer List

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Tori Beckman Named To Collegiate Volleyball Top Performer List 

BUFFALO, NY  University at Buffalo freshman Tori Beckman (Kansas City,
MO/Park Hill) was one of 11 players named as a Collegiate Volleyball Update
Top Performer for her play this past weekend, the website announced this
morning.  The award is a first for the UB volleyball program.
   Beckman, who was the only freshman honored this week, averaged 33.5 digs
per match as she became the first UB player to record 30 digs in a match
since 2006 as she had 31 in the loss to Northern Illinois. That career high
lasted for all of a day as she had 36 digs in UB¹s five-set win over Western
Michigan. The 36 digs were the most by a UB player since Rebecca Meade had
33 digs against Youngstown State on Sept. 5, 1999.
   ³This is an outstanding and well deserved honor for Tori,² said head
coach Todd Kress.  ³I am not only thrilled for her, but for our entire
program as this is another step for us in the right direction.²
   Beckman currently leads the team with 360 digs, which is second in the
Mid-American Conference.  Beckman is also second on the team with 17 service
aces and 68 assists.
   The Bulls hit the road this weekend as they head to Central Michigan on
Friday night and Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7:00
pm.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Tori Beckman Named To Collegiate Volleyball Top Performer List

BUFFALO, NY  University at Buffalo freshman Tori Beckman (Kansas City,
MO/Park Hill) was one of 11 players named as a Collegiate Volleyball Update
Top Performer for her play this past weekend, the website announced this
morning.  The award is a first for the UB volleyball program.
   Beckman, who was the only freshman honored this week, averaged 33.5 digs
per match as she became the first UB player to record 30 digs in a match
since 2006 as she had 31 in the loss to Northern Illinois. That career high
lasted for all of a day as she had 36 digs in UB¹s five-set win over Western
Michigan. The 36 digs were the most by a UB player since Rebecca Meade had
33 digs against Youngstown State on Sept. 5, 1999.
   ³This is an outstanding and well deserved honor for Tori,² said head
coach Todd Kress.  ³I am not only thrilled for her, but for our entire
program as this is another step for us in the right direction.²
   Beckman currently leads the team with 360 digs, which is second in the
Mid-American Conference.  Beckman is also second on the team with 17 service
aces and 68 assists.
   The Bulls hit the road this weekend as they head to Central Michigan on
Friday night and Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7:00
pm.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Klefot Honored as SEC Freshman of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Klefot Honored as SEC Freshman of the Week 

Wildcats record fifth SEC weekly honor of the year

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  –  Kentucky freshman defensive specialist Stephanie Klefot was honored as the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman Player of the Week it was announced Monday.

 

Klefot’s play in the back row enabled the Wildcats (19-1, 9-0) to notch a pair of SEC road sweeps at Mississippi State and Alabama this weekend. The Louisville native charted 17 digs in the win over Mississippi State to lead the team from the back row. 

 

For the weekend Klefot tallied 23 scoops for an average of 3.83 digs a set – a full dig above her average.  Klefot attempted 28 receptions without an error while only playing during three rotations. Klefot also tallied a pair of aces in the win at Alabama and was a serving threat all match for the eight-ranked Wildcats.

 

Klefot has been a mainstay in UK’s lineup since the start of the season. The freshman averages 2.81 digs per set and has recorded the second-most digs on the team for the season with 188. She has also notched 17 service aces on the year.

 

The honor from the league office is the first of Klefot’s career. This marks the fourth consecutive week a UK player has earned a weekly honor from the conference office. Previously, sophomore Gretchen Giesler and senior BriAnne Sauer were named the Defensive Players of the Week and junior outside hitter Sarah Mendoza was the Offensive Player of the Week.  Earlier this season senior setter Sarah Rumely claimed Offensive Player of the Week honors.    

 

With this week’s honor Klefot becomes the fifth current Wildcat to earn an SEC Freshman of the Week honor. Kentucky has had five players win nine freshman honors since 2006. Rumely, Mendoza, Lauren Rapp and Becky Pavan were the other award winners in their first seasons.          

 

Klefot and the Wildcats will host two SEC matches at Memorial Coliseum this week. Up first is a home match with Tennessee on Wednesday night. The match will air live on ESPNU at 7:04 p.m. ET.

 

Wednesday’s match against Tennessee also marks one of the final opportunities for students to receive a wristband to the student only men’s basketball practice on Friday. The first 2,000 fans at the UK vs. Tennessee volleyball match will receive a wristband and access to the basketball practice on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

 

Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date news, highlights and features from the Kentucky volleyball team.

 

‑ GO CATS ‑

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: William and Mary's Shaylin O'Connell Named CAA Rookie of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: William and Mary's Shaylin O'Connell Named CAA Rookie of the Week 

RICHMOND, VA - William and Mary freshman Shaylin O'Connell (Leesburg, Va.) was chosen as the CAA Volleyball Rookie of the Week Monday afternoon, after a career-best outing last Tuesday at American University. O'Connell is the second Tribe rookie to win the award this season, joining teammate Jordyn Moloney (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) who was honored after the opening week. 

Tuesday in the Tribe's last non-conference match, O'Connell led the team defense with a hand in 12 of the team's 21 blocks en route to a 3-1 victory. Her 12 block-assists broke the freshman record for both block-assists and total blocks in a match, and ranks tied for third all-time in a four-set match. Also, the total is fifth-most for block-assists in school history among all matches, and tied for seventh for total-blocks among all matches. Behind O'Connell's efforts, the Tribe tied the school-record for blocks in a four-set match with 21, equaling the mark set by the 1992 squad against Arkansas State. It was the second time that a W&M athlete has connected on 12 blocks this fall, tying Ginny Bray's (Cary, N.C.)outing on the road against Georgetown for the top performance in the CAA this season. 

O'Connell and her teammates return home to Kaplan Arena this weekend, hosting Northeastern and Hofstra on Homecoming.

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Maddie Hughes Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Maddie Hughes Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week  

Junior libero takes home honor for third time this season

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois volleyball junior Maddie Hughes (St.
Charles, Ill./North) garnered her third Mid-American Conference West
Division Defensive Player of the Week award of the season Monday as she
helped the Huskies go 2-0 over the weekend to earn their first two
conference road wins of the season and extend their winning streak to
five matches.

“We are proud of Maddie’s individual accolade this week,” said
NIU head coach Ray Gooden.  “Her individual performance has been a
major cog in our teams’ recent success.”

In eight sets, the NIU libero totaled 42 digs (5.25/set) and had no
errors in 34 reception attempts.  In NIU’s 3-1 win at Buffalo, she had
24 digs and no errors in 20 reception attempts. In NIU’s 3-1 win at
Akron, she had 18 digs and no errors in 14 reception attempts.  She has
now totaled double-figure digs in all but two matches and has had 20 or
more digs in five of her last seven matches.  Hughes also leads the
conference with 4.96 digs per set (387) and has been even better in
league play with an average of 5.45 digs per set (180).

Hughes and the Huskies return to the court next weekend as they begin a
four-match homestand with a MAC contest against Ohio at 7 p.m. (CDT).

-NIU-

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Tulsa’s Adams Named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Tulsa’s Adams Named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week 

Freshman libero earns third C-USA weekly honor

 

TULSA, Okla. – The University of Tulsa volleyball freshman libero Jessica Adams earned her third Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honor, following two huge matches in which she totaled 39 digs in six sets, the league office announced Monday.

 

In two matches last weekend, Adams tallied 39 digs in six sets for a 6.50 dig-per-set average, and added a service ace in home sweeps of Memphis and UAB. Adams averages 5.05 digs per set this season, which ranks 27th in the NCAA.

 

“She is improving every week, and she continues to play solid for us,” Tulsa Head Coach Ed Allen said. “She is providing great leadership running the back court for us. We’re excited about where she is going to be for us in November when it really matters.”

 

In each match, Adams had 10 digs by the end of the first set. Against UAB on Sunday, she tallied 22 digs (7.33 per set) and served up an ace, and on Friday against Memphis, she recorded 17 digs (5.67 per set).

 

The Golden Hurricane returns to the court Tuesday when it plays host to cross-town rival Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Next weekend, Tulsa plays host to Houston (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Rice (Sunday, 1 p.m.). The Sunday match against Rice is TU's Dig Pink match to support breast cancer research and awareness, and will be televised by CBS College Sports.

 

Admission to all TU home matches is free. For all Tulsa volleyball news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter atwww.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane. Become a fan of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane page on Facebook – search “Tulsa Golden Hurricane.”

  

-TulsaHurricane.com-

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND NETS GOLDMAN SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8:  RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND NETS GOLDMAN SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS 

UT Senior is First Player to Win the Award Twice this Season

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second time this season and sixth time in her career, University of Tennessee senior Chloe Goldman has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. With 47 scoops this past weekend, she became the Lady Vols’ all-time leader in digs as she increased her career total to 1,520.

 

Already the school leader with a career average of 4.34 digs per set, Goldman surpassed Kristy Dobson’s lifetime total of 1,474 which she set 18 years ago in 1991. The 5-6 libero from Monterey, Calif., previously won the conference’s defensive player of the week laurels on Oct. 5 after picking up the accolades three times last year and once in 2007. She is the first player to earn the award twice this season.

 

Goldman helped the Big Orange record a pair of important road victories over Alabama and Mississippi State this past weekend. She opened with an incredible 30-dig performance against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Friday, which ranks as the third-best four-set dig total in program history and the second-most digs by an SEC player in a single match this season.

 

Just two days later, Goldman added 17 more scoops as the Orange and White won its fourth consecutive conference match, sweeping the Bulldogs in Starkville. Her 47 digs in just seven sets over the course of the two matches were good for an astounding 6.71 digs per set average. She was also one of the team’s top passers, finishing with two reception errors in 57 attempts.

 

For the year, Goldman currently tops all players in the SEC with 5.39 digs per set in league contests and an overall average of 4.90 scoops per frame. She also leads Tennessee with a total of 333 digs during her senior campaign.

 

The Lady Vols will return to action Wednesday, Oct. 21, when they make the short trek up I-75 for a 7 p.m. showdown against No. 7 Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. The match will be televised live on ESPNU as part of its “Campus Connection” initiative. Following that contest, UT will return to Knoxville where it will host No. 20 LSU at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 in Thompson-Boling Arena.

 

##LADY VOL VOLLEYBALL##

 

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Porche and Daprile named Volleyball Players of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Porche and Daprile named Volleyball Players of the Week 

Horizon League awards go to Valparaiso senior and Butler junior

 

INDIANAPOLIS – Valparaiso University senior Angie Porche has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Butler University junior Katie Daprile has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Oct. 12-18.

 

Porche, an outsider hitter from Lynwood, Ill., earns the honor for a second time this season and the fourth time in her career.  She recorded 41 kills (5.86 kps), 46.0 points (6.57 pps) and a .337 attack percentage (41 K, 9 E, 95 TA) for the Crusaders last week.

 

Porche helped Valparaiso post a 3-0 win over Indiana State University on Wednesday and 3-1 victory over Youngstown State University on Friday.  She slammed 26 kills against the Penguins, which marked the League’s best total for a four-set match this year.

 

Daprile, a libero from Bargersville, Ind., earns the award for the first time this season and the second time in her career.  She averaged a conference-best 9.00 digs per set for the Bulldogs last week.

 

Daprile dug 27 balls in Butler’s sweep of Youngstown State on Saturday, which marked the League’s second-best total for a three-set match in 2009.

 

Valparaiso (15-6, 8-1) returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis at 7 p.m. ET.  Butler (16-10, 6-3) is back on the hardwood Friday when it visits Wright State University at 7 p.m.

 

Other Horizon League top performances (Oct. 12-18)

Jessica Wolfe, Butler, Junior, OH -- 1-0 record, 3 SP, 18 K, 34 TA, .382 Pct

Liz Fazio, Cleveland State, Senior, OH -- 2-0 record, 6 SP, 29 K, 66 TA, .348 Pct

Laura Garrow, Green Bay, Sophomore, L -- 2-0 record, 8 SP, 44 Digs

Alyse Serritella, Loyola, Senior, L -- 0-2 record, 11 SP, 54 Digs

Lauren Felsing, Milwaukee, Senior, L -- 2-0 record, 9 SP, 53 Digs

Lana Lobdell, UIC, Senior, MB -- 0-2 record, 8 SP, 27 K, 63 TA, .333 Pct, 12 TB

Taylor Root, Valparaiso, Freshman, L -- 2-0 record, 7 SP, 36 Digs

Shaunda Sandifer, Wright State, Junior, MB -- 0-1 record, 3 SP, 13 K, 30 TA, .333 Pct, 4 TB

Kaitlin O’Hara, Youngstown State, Senior, OH -- 0-2 record, 7 SP, 22 K, 65 TA, .262 Pct

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Justine Record named ACC Athlete of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8:  Justine Record named ACC Athlete of the Week

The sophomore recorded a career-high 26 kills against Clemson on Saturday

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Sophomore Justine Record earned ACC Athlete of the Week honors for her performance in the Hokies' sweep of Georgia Tech on Friday and the comeback victory over Clemson on Saturday, the conference announced on Monday.

On the weekend, Record tallied 39 kills on a .305 hitting percentage, 23 digs and used her blistering serve to earn eight service errors, four in each match. The Redwood City, Calif., native led the Hokies with 13 kills, while adding eight digs and a block in the 3-0 win over the Yellow Jackets, who came into the match tied for first place in the ACC.

The following night against Clemson, Record registered a career-high 26 kills and 15 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. At one point in the crucial third set against the Tigers, Record earned four kills in five points to rally the Hokies from a seven-point deficit and capture the set, and eventually the match. Her 26 kills is the most by a single Hokie in a match since Anne Spicer landed 26 kills against Virginia on Nov. 18, 2004.

The Hokies will hit the road next weekend for bouts against Boston College and Maryland. Tech faces the Eagles on Friday, and squares off against the Terrapins on Sunday.
-vt-

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Kyley Sexton Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week

College Volleyball Players Honored Week 8: Kyley Sexton Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State outside hitter Kyley Sexton has been named Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

 

Sexton, a 6-0 sophomore from Salem, Ore., led San Diego State to a 3-0 win over Air Force last week. She knocked down 16 kills in 21 attempts with only one hitting error for a career-best .714 efficiency vs. the Falcons while also collecting five digs. Sexton’s previous best hitting percentage on the season was .256, while her 16 kills marked her second-highest output of the season. She came into the match with a .122 attack percentage and averaging 2.28 kills per set. 

 

For the match, Sexton averaged 5.33 kills, 3.00 digs, 1.67 digs and 5.33 points per set.

 

 

MWC Volleyball Players of the Week:

Aug. 31                 Karolina Bartkowiak, Jr., OPP, Utah

Sept. 7                   Kourtney Edwards, Sr., MB, TCU

Sept. 14                 Nichole Stillwell, Jr., MH/MB, Air Force

                                Kourtney Edwards, Sr., MB, TCU

Sept. 21                 Kayla Walker, Sr., RS, BYU

Sept. 28                 Cursty Jackson, So., MB, UNLV

                                Karolina Bartkowiak, Jr., OPP, Utah

Oct. 5                     Ashley Rhoades, So., MB, New Mexico

                                Kourtney Edwards, Sr., MB, TCU

Oct. 12                   Karolina Bartkowiak, Jr., OPP, Utah

Oct. 19                   Kyley Sexton, So., OH, San Diego State

 

 

--mwc--