KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its weekly award winners for the third week of the 2023 volleyball season.
MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week – Rachel Schwensen, Washburn
Rachel Schwensen led the Washburn offense over the weekend as the Ichabods picked up their first conference wins of the season over Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State. Schwensen had one of the best offensive performances in program history in a 3-0 win over the Lopers, knocking down 17 kills while hitting .593 in the match and adding three blocks as well. The fifth-year then added seven kills and another three blocks against the Tigers the next day to give her an average of four kills and a block per set.
MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week – Jaedynn Evans, Central Oklahoma
Jaedynn Evans was in her All-American form this past week as she led Central Oklahoma through a sweeping week of competition. The Bronchos collected wins over Oklahoma Baptist, Newman and Pittsburg State, all in three sets. Evans, who led the country in digs and digs per set a year ago, tallied 67 digs in three matches this week, an average of 7.44 per set. She had 15 digs in one set against Pitt State. She also had a .937 reception percentage with just one error in 30 attempts. Evans averaged 8.17 digs per set in two MIAA contests, totaling 49 digs in the wins over Newman and Pitt State.
MIAA Setter of the Week – Olivia Olson, Central Missouri
Olivia Olson helped the Jennies to a 2-0 record on the week which included a 3-2 win over No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri in Maryville. The redshirt senior recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a career-high 60 assists, 15 digs and four blocks against the Bearcats. She then contributed a match-high 26 assists, 10 digs and three kills in the 3-0 sweep of Missouri Western in St. Joe.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Offensive
Kersti Nix – Central Missouri
The reigning MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week compiled 39 kills on 93 swings (.323 attack percentage) helping the Jens to a 2-0 week defeating Missouri Western and No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri on the road. Nix had a match-high 23 kills, career-high 15 digs and four blocks in the win over Northwest, while adding 16 kills, six digs and two blocks in the 3-0 sweep of Missouri Western.
Fernanda Canedo – Missouri Southern
Fernanda Canedo helped Missouri Southern to an upset over No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri on the road and a strong effort against Missouri Western, who received votes in the national poll. Canedo finished with 40 kills over the two matches, averaging 4.4 kills per set. She also had double-doubles in both contests.
Defensive
Sydney Lierz – Central Missouri
Sydney Lierz led the Jennies with 37 digs over two matches (4.63 digs per set) this past week, helping the team to a 2-0 start in MIAA play with road wins over Missouri Western and No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri. The redshirt senior recorded a career-high 22 digs in the 3-2 win over the Bearcats, then contributed a match-high 15 digs in the 3-0 win over Missouri Western.
Kristen Ford – Northwest Missouri
Kristen Ford averaged 4.60 digs per set as the Bearcats played a pair of five-set matches. Ford tallied a career-high 33 digs, including 12 in the second set in a 3-2 loss to Central Missouri.
Setter
Lindsey Houran – Central Oklahoma
Lindsey Houran set up an offensive onslaught for Central Oklahoma this week as the Bronchos swept all competition at Hamilton Field House in Edmond. The Bronchos won their final non-conference match of the year against Oklahoma Baptist and then beat Newman and Pittsburg State to start MIAA play 2-0. Houran tallied 102 total assists, 11.33 per set, to lead the way. She totaled 65 assists, 10.83 per set, in the two MIAA contests. In three games, Houran dished out 37, 30, and 35 assists.
Corinna McMullen – Washburn
Corinna McMullen notched a 24 assist, 15 dig double-double in the Ichabods 3-0 win over No. 7-ranked Nebraska Kearney and added an ace as well. She then recorded 21 assists in a 3-0 win over FHSU to push her over the 1,000 mark for her career as just a sophomore.
NOMINATIONS FOR VOLLEYBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Offensive: Sydney Huck (Central Oklahoma), Jaden Ferguson (Nebraska Kearney), Maureen Mathews (Emporia State)
Setter: Peyton Neff (Nebraska Kearney), Nessa Johnson (Missouri Western), Ella Caffery (Northwest Missouri), Brailee Bogle (Emporia State), Hannah Allick (Missouri Southern)
2023 MIAA VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Offensive Athlete of the Week
Week One: Sandora Sasaki, Emporia State
Week Two: Kersti Nix, Central Missouri
Week Three: Rachel Schwensen, Washburn
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Week One: Celeste Friesen, Nebraska Kearney
Week Two: Emily Ellis, Fort Hays State
Week Three: Jaedynn Evans, Central Oklahoma
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Week One: Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
Week Two: Nessa Johnson, Missouri Western
Week Three: Olivia Olson, Central Missouri