Several upsets dotted the national landscape on Week 10 and there were just as many amazing individual efforts. This week’s VolleyMob Player of the Week nearly notched a pair of double-doubles in key sweeps in the Atlantic Coast Conference race.
Miami (Fla.) senior outside hitter Olga Strantzali averaged 5.83 kills per set, while hitting at a .500 clip and adding 3.33 digs per set in wins over league leader N.C. State and North Carolina en route to ACC Co-Player of the Week accolades. The Pylaia, Greece native notched 20 kills, 11 digs and two blocks in the win over the Wolfpack, while making just one hitting error in a .514 effort. The senior followed that with a 15 kill, nine dig and two block effort against the Tar Heels, while posting a .480 hitting performance.
Honorable Mention:
Yossiana Pressley, Baylor – Fr., OH
5.67 kills per set, hit .375 and added 2.5 digs and 1.16 blocks per set on the left side, playing in place of Katie Staiger; notched 20 kills while hitting .395 with six blocks and six digs vs. Oklahoma; added 14 kills, while hitting .346 with nine digs, a block and an ace vs. Texas Tech; Big 12 Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week
Kathryn Plummer, Stanford – So., OH
5.43 kills per set, hit .464 and added 2.29 digs per set vs. Arizona State, Arizona; put down 23 kills, while hittting .419, and adding seven digs and an ace vs. Arizona State; notched 15 kills, while hitting .538, with nine digs and an ace vs. Arizona; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Haleigh Washington, Penn State – Sr., MB
3.4 kills and 2.1 blocks per set, while hitting .548 on the week; tallied 14 kills, eight blocks and four digs, while hitting .448 vs. Wisconsin; recorded 10 kills and seven blocks, while hitting .769 (10-0-13) vs. Illinois; put up 500th career block vs. Wisconsin; Big Ten Co-Player of the Week
Cara Guthrie, UNC Asheville – Jr., OH
Averaged 4.56 digs and 4.22 kills per set; also added five blocks and two service aces on the weekend … posted career-best 26 digs and 23 kills in a 3-1 win at Charleston Southern with 26 digs and 23 kills; notched 15 kills and 15 digs in the 3-2 win at Winthrop; Big South Player of the Week
Lizzie Stephens, Ohio – So., OH
6.17 kills per set, while hitting .384, with 2.00 digs and 1.00 aces per set; tallied a match-high 18 kills while hitting .424 and adding five digs and a block vs. Akron; recorded a match-high 19 kills, while hitting .350 and adding seven digs and a career-high five aces vs. Buffalo; MAC East Division Player of the Week
Other Notables:
Anja Malesevic, Columbia – Sr., RS
Averaged 6.00 kills, 2.33 digs and 0.78 blocks per set; notched back-to-back career-high 27-kill performances in wins over Harvard and Dartmouth; tallied 27 kills in just four sets against Dartmouth, including eight in the fourth set to help clinch the match … the 27 kills are the most by a Lion since Oct. 9, 2009; added 13 digs against Dartmouth to record her third double-double of the season; Ivy League Player of the Week
Marijeta Runjic, UTSA – Sr., OH
5.11 kills, 3.44 digs and 0.89 blocks per set, while hitting .268 in wins over UAB (3-2) and Louisiana Tech (3-1); notched 27 kills, 19 digs and four blocks vs. UAB; posted 19 kills, 12 digs, four blocks, while hitting .333 vs. Louisiana Tech; Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week
Kristen Gengenbacher, San Diego – Sr., S
13.8 assists per set, to go with 2.3 digs and 1.1 kills per set; team hit .299 in lone match of week, a 3-1 upset of BYU; handed out 55 assists to go with nine digs, five kills and three blocks; West Coast Conference Player of the Week
Cassie Knutson, Eastern Kentucky – Jr., S/RS
Averaged 5.12 assists, 2.62 kills and 2.50 digs per set; registered a pair of triple doubles – 10 kills, 19 assists, 10 digs vs. Belmont; 11 kills, 22 assists, 10 digs against Tennessee State
Hali Hillegas, Iowa State –RS So., L
6.29 digs per set; 24 digs vs. Kansas; 20 digs vs. K-State; Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
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