East Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Alexis Adleta, Akron, Senior, LS
Adleta (West Chester, Ohio) led Akron to a series split with Northern Illinois on the road on March 4-5. For the week, Adleta recorded 33 kills on 63 attempts with just nine miscues for a .381 hitting percentage. She added 18 digs and four blocks for 35.0 total points. The Zips claimed the second match of the series behind a spectacular performance by Adleta as she floored 18 kills on 31 attempts with only two errors for a .516 hitting percentage. She added a perfect receiving performance, completing 23 attempts while adding six digs and three block assists. In the series opener, Adleta collected 15 kills on 32 attempts with seven errors for a .250 hitting percentage. She added 12 digs and a block.
Defensive Player of the Week
Abigail Huser, Miami, Senior, Libero
Huser amassed 45 digs in a two-match series at Kent State, averaging an impressive 6.43 digs per set. Huser recorded 20 digs (6.67 dps) in a three-set match on Thursday, and recorded her 1,000th career dig during the third set becoming just the 17th player in program history to amass 1,000 career digs. She added a service ace and an assist on Thursday. In a gritty four-set win on Friday, Huser compiled 25 digs (6.25 dps) and served up two aces and adding four assists. It was her fourth and fifth 20-dig efforts this season. For the week, 16 of her digs resulted in transition kills.
Setter of the Week
Vera Giacomazzi, Ohio, Senior, Setter
Giacomazzi piled up a team-high 99 assists (12.38 per set) and added 22 digs (2.75 per set) and three total blocks (one solo, two assisted; 0.38 per set) as the Ohio volleyball team (5-4, 5-4 MAC) split a pair of matches against Ball State last weekend at the Convocation Center. Giacomazzi distributed a match-high 65 assists and posted a double-double with 12 digs in a 3-2 (25-27, 21-25, 25-13, 28-26, 15-11) loss to the Cardinals last Thursday (March 5). The following day in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 26-24) sweep of Ball State, she posted 33 assists and contributed nine digs.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan, Senior, Outside Hitter
The Broncos secured a 3-0 week with two wins over Buffalo and a win over Ball State thanks to the efforts of Rachel Bontrager who led the Broncos with 58 kills, averaging a staggering 5.27 kills per set. Bontrager in three matches hit .326 and registered 5.73 points per set while having 1.73 digs and 0.64 blocks per set. With all three matches this weekend Bontrager has now recorded double digit kills in 10 straight matches. On Thursday against Buffalo, Bontrager had a record night posting a career-high 30 kills to go along with 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Bontrager’s 30 kills was the fifth most in a five-set match in school history. The senior outside hitter became the first Bronco to reach the 30-kill mark since 2005. In a three-set win over Buffalo on Friday, Bontrager had 13 kills to go along with five digs and four blocks. Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, Bontrager led WMU with 15 kills to go along with a .275 hitting percentage. Bontrager with her 15 kills also had two digs and one block. With her weekend performance, Bontrager is now just 18 kills away from becoming the third player in school history to eclipse 1,500 career kills.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kaley Smith, Western Michigan, Senior, Libero/Defensive Specialist
Leading the Broncos to a perfect week defensively, senior libero/defensive specialist Kaley Smith also etched herself in the Bronco record book. Smith in three matches posted 74 digs, averaging 6.73 digs per set. Smith also tallied one kills to go along with nine assists over the weekend. In Thursday’s thrilling five-set victory over Buffalo, Smith guided the Broncos with a career-high 36 digs, the fourth most in a five-set match in school history. With 36 digs, Smith also became the 10th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 digs for her career. Smith followed up her performance on Thursday with 23 digs and one assist in a three-set victory over Buffalo on Friday. Against Ball State on Sunday, Smith collected 15 digs to go along with four assists and one kill.
Setter of the Week
Logan Case, Western Michigan, Freshman, Setter
Freshman Logan guided the Broncos over the weekend to a 3-0 record posting 134 assists, averaging a staggering 12.18 assists per set. Case in the three matches against Buffalo and Ball State, had over 40 assists in two of the matches and recorded her second career double-double. On Thursday against Buffalo Case registered 57 assists, marking the fourth match this season the freshman setter claimed over 50 assists. In Friday’s sweep of Buffalo, Case paced the Broncos once again with 37 assists to go along with three kills, four digs and one block. In a three-set victory over Ball State on Sunday, Case had her second double-double of the season with 40 assists and a career-high 11 digs. Overall Case has recorded at least 40 assists in seven of the last eight matches.
