Volleyball Voices

O'Connell, Burns Earn Southland Conference Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

O'Connell, Burns Earn Southland Conference Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

 

O’Connell helps Lady Demons win fourth consecutive while Burns cracks top 10 in school history in blocks

 

FRISCO, Texas – Northwestern State sophomore Caiti O’Connell earned the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award and Stephen F. Austin’s Sabrina Burns earned defensive player of the week honors, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Caiti O’Connell, Northwestern State

O’Connell helped lead the Northwestern to two wins and extend its win streak to four matches. The sophomore helped the Lady Demons notch their 16th win on the season, which put Northwestern’s season win total at the best in program history since 1977. Her career-high hitting percentage of .700 against McNeese State was the fifth best in Northwestern school history and the second highest in the Southland this season. The Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood H.S.), native currently sits ninth in the conference in kills with 2.92 per set.

 

Honorable Mention: Jessica Hays, Central Arkansas; Sheina Fernandes, Oral Roberts; Deveney Wells-Gibson, Sam Houston State; Tori Bates, Stephen F. Austin.

 

Defensive Player of the Week – Sabrina Burns, Stephen F. Austin

Burns moved into the all-time top 10 in blocks at SFA over the weekend with 17 blocks in three matches, helping the Ladyjacks to a pair of wins. The senior from McAlester, Okla. (McAlester H.S.), averaged 1.47 blocks per set in addition to 2.58 kills and a solid .253 attack percentage. She had at least 10 kills in all three matches last week and added four blocks in a 3-1 loss to Houston Baptist before registering nine rejections in a 3-1 win over McNeese State and four in a four-set win over Lamar.

 

Honorable Mention: Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Camille Alfaro, Sam Houston State; Shelby Devlin, Southeastern Louisiana.

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

Sam Houston State Sweep Volleyball Player of the Week Awards #volleyball #collegevolleyball

Sam Houston State Sweep Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

Sam Houston State sweep awards while Bearkats extend win streak to eight

 

FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State sophomore Deveney Wells-Gibson earned the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award while teammate Kim Black earned defensive player of the week honors, helping Sam Houston State sweep the weekly awards, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Deveney Wells-Gibson, Sam Houston State

Wells-Gibson averaged 5.7 kills per set and hit .368 leading Sam Houston to a 3-0 record over the week and extending the Bearkats winning streak to eight matches, their longest streak since 2009. The San Antonio, Texas (Churchill H.S.), native posted a career-high 27 kills in the Lamar victory, including a kill on the Cardinal set point that would have put Lamar up 2-0. The sophomore served an ace on set point two points later. Wells-Gibson was the kill leader in each match and posted double figure digs in the Houston Baptist and Lamar victories.

 

Honorable Mention: Stacey DiFrancesco, Northwestern State; Courtney Donald, Southeastern Louisiana; Brianna Brink, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Defensive Player of the Week – Kim Black, Sam Houston State

Black led the Bearkat front line with 14 blocks last week. The Huntsville, Texas (Huntsville H.S.), native ranks second in school history in career blocks with 472; 64 behind the all-time leader. The senior currently sits atop the Southland with 1.38 blocks per set and has led Sam Houston in blocks in eight consecutive matches and 19 of 22 contests this year.

 

Honorable Mention: Cortney Moore, Lamar; Keelie Arneson, Northwestern State; Becky Bekelja, Southeastern Louisiana; Shannon Hullum, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

 

Central Arkansas Sweep Volleyball Player of the Week Awards #volleyball #collegevolleyball

 

 

 

Central Arkansas Sweep Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

Central Arkansas sweep awards as Sugar Bears sit atop standings

 

FRISCO, Texas – Central Arkansas junior Marissa Collins earned the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award for the second consecutive week while teammate Alicia Dittrich earned defensive player of the week honors, helping Central Arkansas sweep the weekly awards, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Marissa Collins- Central Arkansas

Marissa Collins continued to show how valuable she is to the Sugar Bear offense this week, helping guide Central Arkansas to three victories. She averaged 13.09 assists per set on the week, helping Central Arkansas compile a hitting percentage of .341. Against Texas Tech, the Pearland, Texas, native dished out 54 assists, had two aces, three blocks and two aces to help the Sugar Bears to their first victory over a Big 12 opponent. Against McNeese State, she tallied 48 assists, five digs, two blocks and an ace. In Central Arkansas’ straight set victory over Lamar, the junior had 42 assists and six digs.

 

Honorable Mention: Jennifer Brandt, Nicholls State; Sheina Fernandes, Oral Roberts; Shannon Hullum, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Defensive Player of the Week – Alicia Dittrich, Central Arkansas

Alicia Dittrich continued in her role as jack-of-all-trades for Central Arkansas this week. She averaged 0.73 blocks per set to lead the team, ranked first in hitting percentage (.458) and second in kills (45). The Houston, Texas, native sits second behind teammate Taylor Hammonds for the conference lead with a .411 hitting percentage.  Dittrich shined against Texas Tech when she had ten kills, four blocks, and eight digs. Against McNeese State, The sophomore tallied 14 kills, five digs and two blocks. While finishing up an unblemished week, she turned in 11 kills, two blocks and two assists against Lamar Saturday.

 

Honorable Mention: Kelly Jimenez, Northwestern State; Joana Gruber, Oral Roberts; Brooke Alverson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

 

#SouthlandStrong

Ivy, Arneson Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week #collegevolleyball

Ivy, Arneson Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Ladyjacks earn offensive honors for second consecutive week while Arneson gets defensive nod for second time

 

FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin sophomore Jill Ivy earned the Offensive Player of the Week award while Northwestern State’s Keelie Arneson earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, following the conclusion of week five, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Jill Ivy- Stephen F. Austin

The Ladyjacks got a great week from Jill Ivy, who led SFA to a trio of wins and helped them maintain its status as the lone Southland Conference team with an unscathed record. The sophomore averaged 3.92 kills per set for the week, hitting at a .326 clip to up her season average to 3.11 kills per set for the year. She opened the week with an 18-kill, two-block outing in a five-set win over Sam Houston State. Ivy then followed that up by hitting .333 with 10 kills and five blocks in a sweep of McNeese State. She then closed out the week with a 19-kill, five-block match in a four-set win over Lamar, hitting .375 in the process. 

 

Honorable Mention:  Jessica Hays, Central Arkansas; Caiti O’Connell, Northwestern State; Sheina Fernandes, Oral Roberts

 

Defensive Player of the Week – Keelie Arneson, Northwestern State

Keelie Arneson was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Week for the second time (9/10) in the 2012 season. The sophomore from Tomball, Texas played in all 12 sets over the week and chipped in with four aces and 13 assists as the Lady Demon’s have won five in a row. Arneson had a great week defensively, digging up 29 balls in NSU’s five-set win over Lamar and 23 while defeating of AMCC.

 

Honorable Mention: Shelbee Berringer, Central Arkansas; Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Sabrina Burns, Stephen F. Austin

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

 

#SouthlandStrong

 

Leslie, Addicks and Alverson Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Leslie, Addicks and Alverson Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Leslie is first freshman this season to notch an award while Alverson and Addicks lead respective teams to 2-0 conference start

 

 

FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin freshman Cara Leslie earned the Offensive Player of the Week award while Jessica Addicks of Nicholls State and Brooke Alverson of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week, following the conclusion of week four, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Cara Leslie- Stephen F. Austin

Leslie had a breakout week for the Ladyjacks, earning all-tournament honors at the Chilly Fillmore’s Invitational and helping SFA to three wins and the tournament title. The true freshman averaged 3.55 kills per set in the three matches, hitting a gaudy .455 on 66 swings. She hit no lower than .440 in each of the three wins, starting with 10 kills, six blocks and a .471 attack percentage in a conference-opening win over Northwestern State. She then hit .458 with 14 kills in a sweep of Robert Morris, before rejecting four shots and adding 15 kills and a .440 attack percentage in a four-set win over Southern Mississippi.

 

Honorable Mention:  Jessica Hays, Central Arkansas; Alex Morford, Lamar; Jennifer Brandt, Nicholls State; Courtney Donald, Southeastern Louisiana; Tyger Holt, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

 

Co-Defensive Players of the Week – Jessica Addicks- Nicholls State and Brooke Alverson- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Jessica Addicks played every set for the Colonels in their three-match wins over the week, averaging 1.31 blocks per set. Along with hitting .319 for the week and 17 total blocks, Addicks had nine service aces for a 0.69/set average and 2.96 points/set, accounting for 16.5 points in the win over McNeese. The Bellaire, Texas, native currently sits fifth in the conference with 39 blocks on the year.

 

Brooke Alverson was strong at the net for the Islanders; leading the team with 16 total blocks in Southland Conference matches against teams picked one and two in the preseason polls. Against previously unbeaten Central Arkansas, Alverson tied for a team high with eight block assists and added one block solo on the defensive end. Offensively, the junior middle blocker had six kills as the Islanders took down the Sugar Bears by a 3-2 final. On Saturday against Oral Roberts, Alverson added another block solo and six more block assists to lead the team to a 3-0 sweep over the Golden Eagles. She also had seven kills as the Islanders started 2-0 in Southland matches and improved to 9-4 overall on the year.

 

Honorable Mention: Keelie Arneson, Northwestern State; Megan McMillin, Southeastern Louisiana; Sabrina Burns, Stephen F. Austin.

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

 

#SouthlandStrong

 

 

Addicks Lands Southland Conference Co-Defensive Player Of the Week Honors

Addicks Lands Southland Conference Co-Defensive Player of The Week Honors

Senior middle blocker hit .316 with nine aces over the week

 

THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University senior middle blocker Jessica Addicks was named the Southland Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week the league announced this afternoon.

 

It is the first Southland honor this season for Addicks and the Colonels, who have won their last three matches.

 

The Bellaire, Texas native hit .319 for the Colonels in their three match wins last week, with 21 kills and an assist as the Colonels defeated UNO last Tuesday and began league play 2-0 for the first time since 2010 with wins over Lamar and McNeese State.

 

Along with an impressive offensive showing, Addicks had 17 total blocks and three digs as opposing teams hit just .161 against Nicholls. She averaged 1.31 blocks per set, as well as drilling nine service aces for a 0.69/set average and 2.96 points/set average, accounting for 16.5 points in the win over McNeese.

 

The Colonels return to action this weekend, traveling to face the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears and Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.

Hammonds, Hanlan Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Hammonds, Hanlan Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Hammonds and Hanlan led their respective squads to perfect 3-0 records over the opening weekend

 

FRISCO, Texas – Central Arkansas senior Taylor Hammonds and Stephen F. Austin senior Madison Hanlan were named the Southland Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, to begin the 2012 season, the league announced Monday.

 

Offensive Player of the Week – Taylor Hammonds, Central Arkansas

Hammonds led the Bears in kills in a week during which they only lost one set. The Tomball, Texas, native finished the weekend hitting a .540 clip and averaging 3.2 kills per set, earning her MVP honors at the Southern Miss. Invitational. The UCA middle blocker played in all 10 sets while chipping in seven digs and three assists as the Sugar Bears swept Louisiana Tech and host Southern Miss.

 

Honorable Mention:  Sheina Fernandes, Oral Roberts; Deveney Wells-Gibson, Sam Houston State; Courtney Donald, Southeastern Louisiana

 

Defensive Player of the Week – Madison Hanlan, Stephen F. Austin

Hanlan moved into second place all-time at SFA in digs over the weekend, earning all-tournament honors as the Ladyjacks won three matches and the title at the UTA/Hilton Invitational. She opened up the year with a 27-dig outing in a five-set win over UTPA, followed by a 14-dig effort in a win over Savannah State on Saturday. She then moved up the SFA leaderboard in the tournament finale with 18 digs in a sweep of UT Arlington, finishing with a 5.36 dig-per-set average for the weekend.

 

Honorable Mention: Shelbee Berringer, Central Arkansas; Jessica Pancratz, Oral Roberts; Kim Black, Sam Houston State; Micah Nolan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

 

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.

 

Texas A&M Islanders Volleyball Undefeated in UTPA Spring Tournament

 

Texas A&M Islanders Volleyball Undefeated in UTPA Spring Tournament

March 26, 2012

The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi volleyball team went undefeated on Saturday in what will be the only outside competition of the spring, going 4-0 at the UTPA Spring Tournament in Edinburg. The Islanders defeated Texas A&M – Kingsville, Texas A&M – International, Texas – Pan American and Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in their four matches at the event.

"It was just a great day for us," said head coach Tony Graystone. "The team played really well, and got after it hard in each match."

The first match of the day featured Texas A&M – Corpus Christi against TAMUK. The Islanders took down the Javelinas by a 25-14, 25-19 score for the first win of the day.

In the second match, TAMUI played tough early on, but the Islanders came through with the second sweep of the day, taking a 25-21, 25-9 final to move to 2-0 at the tournament.

After the lunch break, the Islanders came out against UTPA and took a 25-14, 25-18 score to continue their unbeaten afternoon.

"I thought they looked really fast and you could see a lot of the improvements we were working on throughout the spring," said Graystone. "They were taking it and applying it in games, and they just played really well during the tournament.

"There is still more to work on obviously, but for this point of the year I'm pretty happy."

In the final match of the day, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi faced the toughest test at the tourney before finally finishing off the first game on the way to a 26-24, 25-13 final over UANL to complete the day unblemished.

The Islanders will continue practice during the spring, having completed the only competition of the semester at UTPA.

For all the latest on Islanders Volleyball, like the team on Facebook (Islanders Volleyball), follow them on Twitter (@IslandersVB) and visit www.GoIslanders.com.