After a stellar debut weekend, Wisconsin freshman middle blocker Dana Rettke is the first VolleyMob Player of the Week of the 2017 season. Rettke averaged 5.0 kills per set, while hitting at a .619 clip for the weekend. She also added 1.83 blocks per set as the Badgers went 2-0 with sweeps of then No. 11 North Carolina and Louisville at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The Riverside, Illinois, native posted 15 kills in each win, while adding a match-high six blocks against the Cardinals and team-leading five stuffs vs. the Tar Heels. In the UNC match, Rettke hit at a .778 clip, committing just one error in 18 swings. For her efforts, Rettke was tabbed as Big Ten Co-Player and Co-Freshman of the Week.
There were several other standout performances on opening weekend, so here is a look at some of the other strong candidates for Player of the Week in our Honorable Mention and other notables below.
Honorable Mention
Adora Anae (Utah)
Anae averaged 5.18 kills per set, while hitting .432 and adding 2.73 digs per set. The junior outside hitter narrowly missed posting three double doubles, managing 26 kills and 12 digs against Kentucky, and lacking just one dig in two matches. In a breakout match against Cincinnati, Anae hit at a .760 clip (19 kills, 0 errors, 25 attempts), marking the best hitting percentage by a Utah player since 2009. The Punaluu, Hawaii native also moved into third on Utah’s all-time kill list with 1,430.
Stephanie Samedy (Minnesota)
Samedy averaged 4.43 kills and 3.86 digs per set, while hitting at a .315 clip and racking up two double doubles as the Gophers topped No. 11 North Carolina and Louisville at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. In the win over the Tar Heels, the Clermont, Florida, native notched 14 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. Against the Cardinals, the rookie chalked up 17 kills and 15 digs. Samedy was named Big Ten Co-Player and Co-Freshman of the Week alongside Rettke.
Rachael Kramer (Florida)
Kramer paced the Florida with 3.44 kills per set, while hitting at an eye-popping .549 clip en route SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The sophomore middle blocks also added eight blocks to the team’s tally. The Phoenix native posted 11 kills and five blocks, while pacing the Gators with a .391 hitting effort in the upset of No. 1 Texas. Against Nebraska, Kramer dropped 20 kills, while hitting at a.659 clip. She was named VERT Challenge MVP for her efforts.
Khalia Lanier (USC)
The Scottsdale, Arizona, native averaged 4.36 kills and 2.45 digs per set, while hitting at a .400 clip on opening weekend. She also tallied four aces and four blocks as the Trojans went 3-0. In USC’s 3-1 win over Michigan, she posted a 19-kill, 12-dig double-double. The sophomore outside hitter earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Other Notables
- Danielle Cuttino (Sr., OH, Purdue)
- Ainese Havili (Sr., S, Kansas)
- Emily Heibert (Sr, S, Wichita State)
- Mac May (Fr., OH, UCLA)
- Marysa Wilkinson (Sr., MB, Creighton)
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