INDIANAPOLIS – East and West Division Great Midwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week were announced on Monday as the regular season officially came to a close.
 
Eight of the league’s 13 teams will now gather at Hillsdale for the 2017 Great Midwest Championship that starts with quarterfinal action on Thursday.
 
Hillsdale was able to earn the right to host this year’s conference tournament with a key sweep against Findlay in a battle of West Division powers. The Chargers have won 18 straight going into the postseason.
 
Hillsdale and Findlay are also ranked third and seventh, respectively, in the NCAA Midwest Region rankings.
 
East Division Player of the Week
Ashlyn McDonald
Alderson Broaddus
Outside Hitter
Freshman
Grove City, OH (Grove City HS)
 
McDonald has established herself as a building block for the future success of the Battlers’ program this season as a rookie. Despite AB missing out on the conference tournament, the future remains bright for AB with a strong finish to the regular season.
 
McDonald averaged 2.46 kills and 3.14 digs per set on the season as AB finished out the season with wins against Ohio Valley and conference tourney qualifier Davis & Elkins.
 
In the two matches alone, McDonald exceeded her season averages with 3.38 kills and 4.88 digs per game. Among all league players in the past week, she ranked tied for seventh and third, respectively, in both statistical categories.
 
McDonald posted two double-doubles with 16 kills and 24 digs against D&E and then 11 kills with 15 digs against OVU.
 
West Division Player of the Week
Jackie Langer
Hillsdale
Outside Hitter
Senior
Mokena, IL (Lincoln-Way Central HS)
 
Langer and the Chargers celebrated the title of co-West Division champions with a statement match against Findlay on Friday.
 
Hillsdale extended its current win streak to 18 straight, padding to a conference record stretch, and earned the right to host this year’s conference tournament that starts Thursday.
 
Langer hit .400 with 14 kills in 30 total swings as Hillsdale completed the sweep over their divisional counterpart. Hillsdale will enter the Great Midwest Championship with a 15-2 league record and is 25-3 overall.
 
Langer has started in 16 of her team’s 19 matches this season and is averaging 2.58 kills per set go with a .277 attacking percentage.