Courtesy: Big Sky Conference
OGDEN, Utah – Montana’s Mykaela Hammer, Northern Arizona’s Kaylie Jorgenson and Montana State’s Allyssa Rizzo were all recognized as #BigSkyVB Players of the Week. Hammer was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Jorgenson and Rizzo earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Hammer, a senior from Oro Valley, Ariz., led Montana to a 2-0 record over the weekend, the team’s best start to Big Sky play since 2014, and just its second 2-0 start in the past decade. The outside hitter averaged 4.88 kills per set over the two matches, nearly twice as many as the next-best attacker. She had 39 kills on an impressive .443 hitting. Hammer averaged a double-double with 19.5 kills and 10.0 digs per match. She also had a team-high four service aces.
In a five-set win over Sacramento State, Montana overcame an 0-2 deficit. Hammer had a career-high 23 kills on .409 hitting, eclipsing her previous high for kills on the final swing of the match. She had five kills in a Set-3 victory. The Grizzlies trailed 18-15, but closed on a 10-5 run, including three kills from Hammer. She tallied four kills in the fifth set, including two during a 5-0 run to start the frame, plus the final point of the match.
Hammer Led Montana with 16 kills on .500 hitting in a three-set win over Portland State, also recording three service aces.
Congratulations to Mykaela Hammer, the #BigSkyVB Offensive Player of the Week!
📰 https://t.co/pNkyKFnUaR#GrizVB #GoGriz #HammerTime pic.twitter.com/e9v7eveO7V
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) September 24, 2018
Jorgenson, a junior outside hitter from Saskatchewan, Canada, totaled two double-doubles and was a dominant force at the net this past weekend versus Idaho State and Weber State. With 10 kills, 20 digs versus Idaho State and 19 kills, 13 digs versus Weber State on Saturday, Jorgenson tallied her eighth and ninth double-doubles of the season, but it was her blocking that drew notice.
The opposite hitter nearly doubled her previous career-high with eight blocks against Idaho State as part of NAU’s 18.0 team blocks – matching the most by a Big Sky team this season. Of her eight blocks, Jorgenson recorded three solo stuffs against the Bengals. Jorgenson followed with four more blocks versus Weber State. Her 1.33 blocks per set, an exceptional number for an outside hitter, is tied for fourth in league play and she led the entire conference with four solo blocks. She had as many or more solo blocks than eight of the 10 other league teams.
She can kill the ball, but @kayliejorgenson can block a little too 😉 Congrats #⃣1⃣2⃣ on being named @BigSkyVB Co-Defensive Player of the Week!
📰 https://t.co/lxfdGXQaDf#NAUStrong ⚒️🌲💪 #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/omJ5ilVXFY
— NAU Volleyball (@NAUVolleyball) September 24, 2018
Rizzo, a junior libero, had an outstanding opening weekend of Big Sky Conference play, averaging an impressive 7.33 digs per set. On the weekend, the product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 66 digs, going over the 30-dig plateau in both matches. In Montana State’s 3-2 win over Portland State, Rizzo recorded a career-high 34 digs. She followed that with a 32-dig performance against Sacramento State. Against the Hornets, Rizzo averaged a whopping 8.00 digs per set. She opened the first set against the Hornets with 11 saves. Rizzo leads the Big Sky Conference averaging 5.66 digs per set.
Montana State’s Rizzo Earns Second Straight Big Sky Volleyball Honor https://t.co/ume2tIQ9kI
— Montana State Bobcats (@MSUBobcats) September 24, 2018
Other Offensive Nominees: Reece Carmen – Idaho; Chelsea Johnson – Idaho State; Natalie Passeck – Montana State; Ryann Davis – Northern Arizona; Lauren Hinrichs – Northern Colorado; Jenna Mullen – Portland State; Mikaela Nocetti – Sacramento State; Mckenzie Dowell – Southern Utah
Other Defensive Nominees: Alycia Wodke – Idaho; Brooke Pehrson – Idaho State; Taylor Els – Northern Colorado; Hadley Heck – Portland State; Lana Brown – Sacramento State; Anna Hopkins – Southern Utah; Helena Khouri – Weber State
2018 Offensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 27 – Kaela Straw, Idaho
Sept. 3 – DeVonne Ryter, Idaho
Sept. 10 – Abby Akin, Northern Arizona
Sept. 17 – Evi Wilson, Montana State
Sept. 24 – Mykaela Hammer, Montana
2018 Defensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 27 – Heaven Harris, Northern Arizona
Sept. 3 – Brooke Pehrson, Idaho State
Sept. 10 – Paige Swinney, Sacramento State
Sept. 17 – Allyssa Rizzo, Montana State
Sept. 24 – Kaylie Jorgenson, Northern Arizona/Allyssa Rizzo, Montana State
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