East Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green, Junior
For the second consecutive weekend Katelyn Meyer paced the Falcons in kills in the series sweep over Western Michigan, winning both matches by a score of 3-0. Meyer began the series with 19 kills before following it up with 12 kills in the second match. In addition to leading the team in kills, Meyer tallied eight digs, three blocks and an ace as well.
Defensive Player of the Week
Erin Gardner, Kent State, Junior
Erin Gardner had a strong opening weekend and averaged 5.71 digs per set to help Kent State win both of its matches at MAC West Division favorite Central Michigan. Gardner was the stabilizing force of a Golden Flashes defense that held the high-powered Chippewas’ attack to a .166 hitting percentage. She had 17 digs in a 3-0 win on Thursday and added 23 digs during Kent State’s 3-1 win on Friday.
Setter of the Week
Alex Haffner, Kent State, R-Junior
Alex Haffner averaged 14.23 assists and 2.57 digs per set while leading Kent State to a pair of victories at MAC West Division favorite Central Michigan. Haffner did an excellent job of reading the defense and putting her teammates in high-percentage scoring opportunities, which resulted in a .278 team hitting percentage. Her 58 assists on Friday are tied for the second-most in a four-setter this year, and she added a career-high four aces. Haffner opened the season with 42 assists and 12 digs in a sweep on Thursday.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Kia Holder, Ball State, Senior
Senior outside attacker Kia Holder led the Ball State offense with 21 kills and a 3.50 kills-per-set average in last week’s two-match sweep at Buffalo. She also hit an impressive .349 (21-6-43) for the series, helping guide the team as a whole to a .331 rate of success. In Thursday’s opener, Holder smashed seven kills and hit .333 (7-2-15). She doubled the total the next day with 14 kills and a .357 (14-4-28) attack percentage in Friday’s sweep. In addition, she registered a career-high six total blocks Friday, helping limit the Bulls to a .030 attack percentage for the match. Along with her 3.50 kills per set, Holder averaged 4.08 points, 1.00 blocks and 0.50 digs per set over the two wins.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ryann Jaqua, Toledo, Sophomore
Ryann Jaqua started both matches at libero last week and recorded 7.00 digs/set against the Huskies. Jaqua had two of the six highest dig totals for a MAC player last week, registering 30 digs in Thursday's five-setter and 26 in the three-set sweep on Friday. She helped the Rockets get off to a good start in Friday's win with 12 digs in the first set. Her two starts at libero last week were the first of her career. Jaqua is averaging 4.53 digs/set this season.
Setters of the Week
Kate Vinson, Ball State, Freshman
Esther Grussing, Ball State, R-Sophomore
Ball State turned to a 6-2 offense in last week’s series sweep at Buffalo, and it paid off with the Cardinals connecting for a .331 attack percentage over the two wins. Combined, redshirt sophomore setter Esther Grussing and freshman setter Kate Vinson tallied 62 total assists for a 10.33 assists-per-set average for the week. Vinson, the reigning MAC West Division Setter of the Week, handed out 27 assists over the two matches for a 4.50 assists-per-set average. She also collected nine digs and a block assist. Grussing, a three-time MAC West Division Setter of the Week last season, handed out 35 assists over the two matches for a 5.83 assists-per-set average. She also collected 12 digs and three service aces.
