East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Right Side Hitter
Ochaya was named YSU DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational MVP for her all-around stellar performance over the weekend. Ohaya led the Zips to a 3-0 overall record and best start to the program since the 2013 season. For the tournament, she paced the Zips’ offense, distributing 37 kills on 89 attempts with only five errors for a .360 hitting percentage. Ochaya made her presence felt on the defensive side of the net, collecting 14 total blocks, assisting on 13 blocks and issuing one solo denial. She added 21 digs. In the season opener, Ochaya delivered eight kills on 14 attempts with one error for a .500 hitting percentage with two blocks and three digs to help the Zips defeat St. Francis 3-0. Later in the evening, she collected 13 kills, eight blocks and nine digs as Akron defeated the host YSU in straight sets. In the tournament finale, Ochaya lead Akron’s attack with 16 kills while adding nine digs and four blocks for a 3-2 win over Duquesne.
East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Right Side Hitter
Ochaya was named YSU DoubleTree-Youngstown Volleyball Invitational MVP for her all-around stellar performance over the weekend. Ohaya led the Zips to a 3-0 overall record and best start to the program since the 2013 season. For the tournament, she paced the Zips’ offense, distributing 37 kills on 89 attempts with only five errors for a .360 hitting percentage. Ochaya made her presence felt on the defensive side of the net, collecting 14 total blocks, assisting on 13 blocks and issuing one solo denial. She added 21 digs. In the season opener, Ochaya delivered eight kills on 14 attempts with one error for a .500 hitting percentage with two blocks and three digs to help the Zips defeat St. Francis 3-0. Later in the evening, she collected 13 kills, eight blocks and nine digs as Akron defeated the host YSU in straight sets. In the tournament finale, Ochaya lead Akron’s attack with 16 kills while adding nine digs and four blocks for a 3-2 win over Duquesne.
East Division Setter of the Week
Alex Haffner, Kent State, Setter
Alex Haffner was named to the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational All-Tournament Team after guiding Kent State to a pair of wins on Saturday and averaging a MAC-best 11.33 assists per set for the weekend. Haffner utilized the Golden Flashes' front row depth, as four teammates finished the weekend with more than 25 kills. She averaged 2.75 digs per set with double-doubles in both victories. Haffner registered 56 assists and 17 digs in a 3-1 win over SIUE and then 52 assists and 10 digs in a 3-2 win over the host Mastodons.
West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Taylor Alt, Toledo, Outside Hitter
Alt was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. Aug. 27-28. She led the Rockets to two wins with a team-best 41 kills, hitting .310.
West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Aly Gurtiza, Central Michigan, Libero
Central Michigan freshman libero Aly Gurtiza had an impressive opening weekend as the Chippewas went 1-2 at the CEFCU Invitational. Playing in her first collegiate matches, the Greenwood, Mo., native anchored the back line bringing up a team-best 69 digs (6.9/set). In Friday's 3-1 victory over Bradley, Gurtiza posted a team-high 29 digs. She followed it up with a 19 and 21 dig performance in losses to DePaul and SEMO on Saturday.
West Division Setter of the Week
Logan Case, Western Michigan, Setter
Logan Case recorded her first double-double of the season after 30 assists and 11 digs in WMU's season-opening loss to Michigan State at the Auto-Owners Insurance Invitational. She helped the Broncos rebound the following morning by tallying 24 assists in just two sets in WMU's 3-0 win over Wright State. The Broncos had an attack percentage of .268 in the win over the Raiders.
