Taylor, Pence, Knoblauch Pick Up Missouri Valley Awards

  0 volleymob | August 27th, 2018 | College - Women's Indoor, Missouri Valley Conference, News

Courtesy: Missouri Valley Conference

It was a strong defensive weekend in the MVC with Illinois State’s Courtney Pence moving into fifth all-time on the league’s digs list (2,148), Valparaiso’s Katherine Carlson reaching 1,000 digs and Missouri State’s Emily Butters setting the school’s career digs record (1,939).

Offensively, Northern Iowa’s Karlie Taylor was the standout, racking up 53 kills against a trio of ranked foes.

Taylor and Pence wound up on the MVC honor roll for the week as player and defensive player of the week respectively. Indiana State setter Makayla Knoblauch was named the top rookie.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Karlie Taylor, Jr., OH, UNI
UNI junior Karlie Taylor led the Panthers with 53 kills en route to a 2-1 record at the USC Trojan Invite in Los Angeles, including wins over No. 13 Creighton and No. 5 Kentucky. She notched 57.5 points with a .246 attack percentage. She also added four blocks, 31 digs, which is second-best on the UNI squad, and a pair of service aces. She led UNI with 4.82 kills per set. She earned All-Tournament Team honors along with junior setter Rachel Koop. She had her most impressive match of the weekend on the opener verses No. 13 Creighton with 18 kills and an efficient .351 attack percentage for a weekend-high 20 points. Against No. 10 USC, she had 17 kills and a .178 attack percentage against the talented Trojan front line. In the thrilling weekend finale, she notched 18 kills with a .231 percentage and 19 total points.

Other Notable Performances: Erica Haslag (BRAD); Elle Tubbs (DU); Rachel Tam (UE); Stef Jankiewicz (ILS); Damadj Johnson (INS); Gabi Maciagowski (LUC); Amelia Flynn (MSU); Maggie Nedoma (SIU); Brittany Anderson (VALPO)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Courtney Pence, Sr., DS, Illinois State
Illinois State senior Courtney Pence started all three matches for the Redbirds this weekend, as Illinois State went 2-1 at the Benson Hospitality Invitational. The senior collected 65 total digs, including a game-high and MVC game-high 34 against Georgia, averaging 5.91 digs per set – the most among defensive players in the Valley through the opening weekend. She was a major piece of an Illinois State defense that held Coastal Carolina to a .071 hitting percentage in the Redbirds’ sweep of the Chanticleers. Pence finished the weekend with four service aces, including two against the Bulldogs, and committed just a single reception error. The Springfield, Illinois, native was one of two Redbirds to be named to the all-tournament team.

Other Notable Performances: Yavianliz Rosado (BRAD); Gabriela dos Santos (UE); Jade York (INS); Alex Nunez (LUC); MacKenzie Irwin (MSU); Kendyl Sorge (UNI); Alison Thomas (SIU); Peyton McCarthy (VALPO)

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Makayla Knoblauch, Fr., S, Indiana State
In her first weekend of collegiate play, Indiana State’s Makayla Knoblauch tallied 129 assists and 10.75 assists per set – both marks ranking second in the Valley over the weekend. In addition to serving as Indiana State’s primary setter in her first collegiate action, starting in all three matches, Knoblauch also hit .346 with 10 kills to her credit. She also added 25 digs, 5 total blocks and 2 aces in a well-rounded effort, leading the Sycamores to a runner-up finish at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.

Other Notable Performances: Hannah Thompson (BRAD); Caitlyn Smith (DU); Cecilia Thon (UE); Marissa Stockman (ILS); Lauren Caprini (LUC); Amelia Flynn (MSU); Inga Rotto (UNI); Kat Wagner (SIU)

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