West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Keona Salesman, Western Michigan, Outside Hitter
Salesman was named to the Western Michigan Tournament All-Tournament Team after helping the Broncos to a trio of four-set victories. The senior totaled 32 kills (3.56/set) while hitting .346 for the weekend. She racked up nine kills in the season-opening win over Milwaukee, and then had eight on a blistering .533 hitting percentage in Saturday's win over UNI. Salesman then capped the weekend with a 15-kill performance against Villanova, during which she hit .325.
West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Andelyn Simkins, Western Michigan, Libero
Simkins was named to the Western Michigan Tournament All-Tournament Team after helping lead the Broncos to a trio of four-set victories. The senior totaled 46 digs (3.83/set) for the weekend and successfully received 59-of-60 opponent serves (.983). Simkins totaled 18 digs in the season-opening win over Milwaukee and followed that up with 22 in Saturday's win over UNI. In those two matches, she went a combined 41-for-41 in serve reception.
West Division Setter of the Week
Logan Case, Western Michigan, Setter
Case was named the MVP of the Western Michigan Tournament over the weekend, leading the Broncos to three straight four-set victories. The senior handed out 139 assists (11.58/set) to help the WMU attack hit .234 for the weekend. On the defensive end, Case also added 28 digs (2.33/set) and five block assists. The Maineville, Ohio, native capped the weekend with her first double-double of the new season as she handed out 44 assists and tallied 14 digs as the Broncos hit .321 in a four-set win over Villanova.
East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Amanda Otten, Bowling Green, Right Side/Setter
Freshman Amanda Otten burst onto the scene for the Falcons with two double-doubles during the opening weekend. In Otten's first match, she landed six kills with a .455 hitting percentage to go along with 18 assists, seven digs, two aces and two block assists. She followed it up on Saturday with her first career double-double, nearly a triple-double, against No. 14 Ohio State with 14 kills, 23 assists and nine blocks. Otten added a .481 hitting percentage, two aces and two digs. Otten wrapped up the weekend with another double-double, this one against Northern Kentucky, with 17 assists and 13 kill along with seven digs and a weekend-best .526 hitting percentage.
East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Sam Steele, Ohio, Libero
Senior DS/L Sam Steele led the Ohio volleyball team defensively this past weekend at the LD&B Insurance Invitational hosted by JMU, leading the Bobcats to a 2-1 opening weekend. Overall, Steele played in all 12 sets on the weekend, registering 65 digs in 70 attempts and 5.42 digs per set. She also only recorded one receiving error and had a .986 reception percentage. She also added nine service aces and 13 assists. In Ohio's opening match against UMBC, Steele had 25 digs, 27 receptions and eight assists. Then in Ohio's sweep of JMU, Steele recorded 19 digs and five aces, before closing out the weekend with 22 digs and three aces in the Bobcats' 3-1 win against High Point on Sunday.
East Division Setter of the Week
Parker Kwiatkowski, Ohio, Setter
Graduate student setter Parker Kwiatkowski helped the Ohio volleyball team to a 2-1 weekend at the 2023 LD&B Insurance Invitational hosted by James Madison. Overall, Kwiatkowski played in all 12 sets and recorded 127 assists on 355 attempts for a .358 assist percentage, while averaging 10.58 assists per set. In the Bobcats' first match against UMBC on Friday, Kwiatkowski had 50 assists in 130 chances for a .385 set percentage. On Saturday in Ohio's sweep of JMU, Kwiatkowski had 32 assists in 96 chances, while wrapping up the weekend with 45 assists in Ohio's 3-1 win over High Point.
