INDIANAPOLIS – A pair of all-tournament team selections from the Midwest Region Crossover secured Great Midwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week honors as announced Monday.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
Allyssa Van Wienen
Hillsdale
Middle Blocker
Junior
Grand Rapids, MI (Grand Rapids Christian HS)
 
The Chargers were one of four teams to earn a pair of wins at the Midwest Region Crossover, beating No. 17 ranked Rockhurst and Saginaw Valley State. HC’s bid for a perfect weekend fell shy by the shortest margin in a five-set defeat vs. No. 10 Lewis.
 
Nonetheless, the Chargers proved their lofty status in the tough Midwest Region and Van Wienen played a starring role once again.
 
The junior middle was named to the 20 person all-tournament team after hitting .386 and posting 4.27 kills per set. Van Wienen was among the top 10 players in the entire tournament field in points (4.77) as she continues to wage a campaign for All-American honors.
 
Van Wienen posted team-best numbers vs. Rockhurst with 15 kills and three blocks as the Chargers took care of business in three sets. Versus Saginaw Valley, she hit .375 on 24 swings to go with 13 more kills.
 
She finished the weekend strong with 19 kills vs. Lewis and added five blocks and three digs.
 
Van Wienen has now won four conference offensive player of the week awards for the current season as 16th-ranked Hillsdale looks to keep climbing in the national rankings.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Jaylen McEwen
Kentucky Wesleyan
Outside Hitter
Junior
Salem, OR (Daviess County HS)
 
At any given time on the floor during Kentucky Wesleyan’s three matches, there was no doubt who the best player was at the time – McEwen.
 
Behind her balanced offensive and defensive efforts, the Panthers had an impressive showing at the Midwest Region Crossover with five-set victories over both Northwood and Quincy.
 
Similar to Hillsdale in the final match of the tourney, KWC pushed Southern Indiana to the brink in a five-set defeat by a razor-thin margin.
 
In addition to being the top point scorer for the Panthers, McEwen averaged 2.47 digs per set and produced six blocks. The junior averaged 2.67 kills and also added three service aces while hitting .275.
 
McEwen had nine kills and eight digs in the tourney opener vs. Northwood. She had a strong double-double vs. Quincy with 18 digs and 14 kills, one of three KWC players to have that number offensively.
 
McEwen closed the weekend on a high note with another double-double, this time posting 17 kills and 11 digs vs. USI. She also had three blocks vs. the Screaming Eagles.