INDIANAPOLIS – The league schedule is about ready to commence as Great Midwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week honors were announced on Monday afternoon.
Offensive Player of the Week
Allyssa Van Wienen
Hillsdale
Middle Blocker
Junior
Grand Rapids, MI (Grand Rapids Christian HS)
There still hasn’t been another offensive player of the week this season other than the 6-2 Van Wienen – a true testament to how dominant the junior has been thus far.
The Chargers, ranked 14th nationally, rode the coattails of Van Wienen to wins over Seton Hill and UIndy on a neutral floor. Hillsdale’s five-match win streak was snapped earlier in the weekend by Illinois Springfield.
Van Wienen averaged over 5 kills per set while hitting .535, numbers that just continue to climb every week of the current season. She also averaged over a block per set and chipped nearly one dig per game.
She led the way against UIS with 13 kills and three blocks while hitting .297. The Chargers kept each set close, but just couldn’t quite close it out after winning the first set, 25-18.
It was back to their winning ways starting against Seton Hill as Van Wienen hit a ridiculous .639 for 24 kills on just 36 swings. In the four-set HC victory, she added seven digs, four blocks and a pair of aces.
Versus UIndy, Van Wienen hit an even better .731 with 19 kills on 26 attack attempts. In a three-set final, she also managed five total blocks and three digs.
Van Wienen is now a three-time conference offensive player of the week this season; she was also tabbed the Sports Imports / AVCA National Player of the Week to start the fall. Van Wienen is the league leader in attacking percentage while ranking third in blocks and kills and second in points per set.
Defensive Player of the Week
Liene Miller
Cedarville
Outside Hitter
Junior
Westfield, IN (Westfield HS)
The Yellow Jackets surged with three wins in four matches during the last week of competition, reeling off victories over Trevecca Nazarene (non-conference), Truman State and Charleston (WV).
Miller posted well-rounded numbers in both areas of the game to help Cedarville go into a four-game trip to start conference play with momentum.
The junior outside contributed 4.5 kills per set (14 played) while recording a pair of kill/dig double-doubles. Miller hit to the tune of combined .227 in the four matches.
She added 10 service aces and chipped in six blocks.
Miller’s effort against Truman State in regional competition resulted in 17 kills, 13 digs and four services aces. It was a strong effort by the Yellow Jackets on a neutral floor.
Miller followed with another double-double, this time recording 14 kills and 13 digs vs. a familiar opponent in TNU. She contributed three more aces.