Women's Volleyball

Chippewas, Eagles, and Bulls Collect Player of the Week Honors After Opening Week of Conference Play

Offensive Player of the Week
Krystina Kasson, Opposite, Central Michigan
A dominant weekend to open MAC play was a dominant weekend for CMU senior Krystina Kasson. As the Chippewas swept the RedHawks, Kasson was an offensive powerhouse when she recorded 28 kills, hitting .651 from the right side. More impressively, Kasson did not record a single attack error through the six sets where she ended the series averaging 4.67 kills/set and 5.08 points/set with her five total blocks as well for the Chippewas. Kasson’s 30.5 points over the two matches were evenly spread, with 12 kills on night one and 16 on night two, hitting over .600 in both (.632 and .667)
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Hannah Blaney, DS, Eastern Michigan
Eastern libero Hannah Blaney led the Eagles' defense in two wins over Kent State, Sept. 26-27. The senior registered 50 digs, averaging 6.25 per set. Blaney set a career-best with 27 digs against the Golden Flashes in Friday's reverse sweep, the second-most digs from a single player in an individual match in the conference this season. She tabbed 23 in the sweep over Kent State the next day, which stands as the most in a three-set match from an individual in the MAC in 2024. Overall, Blaney stands second in the MAC with 258 total digs, a mark that ranks her 10th in the nation. The Saline, Mich./ native added four assists, two aces, and one kill over the two matches.
 
Setter of the Week
Mandy Leigh, Buffalo
Mandy Leigh helped the Bulls split their weekend series at the reigning MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos. The Bulls handed the Broncos their first home conference loss since Oct. 15, 2022, when they lost to the Toledo Rockets, 3-1. The Bulls swept the Broncos on Saturday, which marked the first time they were swept at home in MAC play was on Oct. 23, 2021, against the Ball State Cardinals. Leigh leads the MAC with 74 total assists and 12.33 assists per set. She is also first in aces and aces per set, with five and 0.83, respectively. She had a career-high four aces against the Broncos on Saturday. Leigh also holds the top mark with assists in a three-set match with 38. On the weekend, the Bulls had a hitting percentage of .249. She added three kills and four total blocks to go with her 10.0 points and 15 digs.