Courtesy: Big Sky Conference
OGDEN, Utah – Sacramento State’s Mikaela Nocetti and Northern Arizona’s Abby Akin were recognized as the #BigSkyVB Players of the Week. Nocetti was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Akin earned Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Nocetti, a senior outside hitter from Carmichael, Calif., had another huge week while sparking the Hornets to a pair of three-set home sweeps of Montana State and Montana. Sacramento State has now won five straight matches and remains tied atop the Big Sky Conference standings with Idaho. Nocetti finished the week hitting .366 with averages of 5.00 kills, 1.83 digs and 0.50 aces per set. In both matches, the outside hitter led all players in kills while also hitting at least .300.
Nocetti continues to lead the Big Sky with 4.08 kills per set while also adding 2.40 digs and 0.35 aces per set. Against Big Sky opposition, she has raised her average to 4.57 kills per set to go along with a .277 hitting percentage. Entering Saturday’s match, Nocetti ranked among the top 15 players in the nation in total attacks (2nd), total points (10th) and total kills (13th).
Back-to-back! Nocetti receives the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week award for the 2nd straight week. She averaged 5.00 kills per set while hitting .366 in sweeps of Montana and Montana State. #StingersUp https://t.co/JXe7PJmiMz
— Sacramento State Volleyball (@SacStateVB) October 22, 2018
Akin, a junior middle blocker from Phoenix, Ariz., dominated Weber State and Idaho State this past week, playing a huge role in the Lumberjacks’ perfect 2-0 road trip over two teams who entered the week tied for first place in the conference. Akin averaged 1.43 blocks per set to lead NAU’s defense at the net, as NAU limited both Weber State and Idaho State to only .121 combined hitting. Akin proved to be a critical difference-maker particularly against the Bengals, where she totaled eight of her 10 blocks on the weekend. The Lumberjacks avenged a five-set home loss by keeping the Bengals at .092 hitting. With Akin’s help, NAU held Weber State to .162 hitting. Akin was equally dominant on the offensive end as she hit a whopping .615 and averaged 3.71 kills per set.
Abby Akin's eye-popping season keeps getting better, and those are just her defensive numbers 👀
📰 https://t.co/H9HSsvZIlU#NAUStrong ⚒️🌲💪 #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/Ird5NXJB8V
— NAU Volleyball (@NAUVolleyball) October 22, 2018
Other Offensive Nominees: Kaela Straw – Idaho; Chelsea Johnson – Idaho State; Carina Lehto – Montana State; Heaven Harris – Northern Arizona; Daisy Schultz – Northern Colorado; Peyton McBride – Portland State; Janet Kalaniuvalu – Southern Utah; Hannah Hill-DeYoung – Weber State
Other Defensive Nominees: Alycia Wodke – Idaho; Haylie Keck – Idaho State; Allyssa Rizzo – Montana State; Taylor Els – Northern Colorado; Mackenzie Sullivan – Portland State; Cianna Andrews – Sacramento State; Katie Montgomery – Southern Utah; Hannah Hill-DeYoung – 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
Oct. 1 – Ashtin Olin, Sacramento State
Oct. 8 – Kaylie Jorgenson, Northern Arizona
Oct. 15 – Mikaela Nocetti, Sacramento State
Oct. 22 – Mikaela Nocetti, Sacramento State
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
Oct. 1 – Taylor Els, Northern Colorado/Haylie Keck, Idaho State
Oct. 8 – Haylie Keck, Idaho State
Oct. 15 – Taylor Els, Northern Colorado
Oct. 22 – Abby Akin, Northern Arizona
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