East Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Savannah Matthews, Kent State, Sophomore, Outside Hitter
Matthews continued her stellar sophomore campaign with averages of 5.36 points, 4.91 kills and 4.45 digs per set to lead Kent State to a 2-1 week. Matthews started the week with 20 kills and 20 digs against Eastern Michigan to become the first Golden Flash with a 20-20 performance since 2016. She followed with 17 kills in both of Kent State’s 3-0 wins at Toledo and recorded a career-high .536 hitting percentage in Saturday’s series opener.
Defensive Player of the Week
Julia Walz, Bowling Green, Junior, Libero
Walz tied her career-high for digs against Ohio on Thursday (Feb. 18) with 38, just seven shy of the program record for four-sets. The 38 digs also marked the third time this season that Walz has surpassed the 20-dig mark. She also landed a career-high four aces in the match, which was two shy of the program record.
Setter of the Week
Alex Haffner, Kent State, R-Junior, Setter
Haffner led Kent State to a 2-1 week, including a pair of 3-0 wins at Toledo, by averaging 11.27 assists and 2.91 digs per set. Haffner totaled 40 assists in helping the Golden Flashes post a season-best .350 hitting percentage against the Rockets on Saturday.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Kaitlyn Bell, NIU, Sophomore, Outside Hitter
Bell averaged 4.0 kills per set and hit .365 in NIU's pair of 3-0 wins at Ball State this week. The sophomore hit a career-high .536 last Thursday night, tying a career-high with 16 kills. Bell also had a career-high five blocks. She had eight kills in the Huskies' win Friday.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kennedy Wallace, NIU, Senior, Middle Blocker
Wallace averaged 1.33 blocks per set this week as NIU earned a pair of 3-0 wins at Ball State. Wallace opened the series with seven kills and four blocks Thursday night. On Friday, Wallace hit .500 with 13 kills and another four blocks. In NIU's current three-match winning streak Wallace is averaging 3.7 kills and 1.2 blocks per set, hitting .364.
Setter of the Week
Grace Balensiefer, NIU, Junior, Setter
Balensiefer averaged over 13 assists per set in leading NIU to a pair of 3-0 wins at Ball State. The junior setter had a double-double in Thursday night's sweep with 34 assists, 13 digs, two aces and a block. On Friday, Balensiefer had 45 assists, six digs and three blocks in leading NIU to a season-high .305 hitting percentage. She averaged 3.17 digs and 0.67 blocks per set this week as the Huskies extended their winning streak to three matches.
