KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its volleyball athletes of the week from week eight of the 2024 season. Central Oklahoma’s Addison Wimmer was selected the league’s Offensive Athlete of the Week while a pair of Griffons were named the Defensive Athlete of the Week and the Setter of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Addison Wimmer, Central Oklahoma
Addison Wimmer led No. 10-ranked Central Oklahoma with 28 kills in two matches week. In back-to-back MIAA matches against Arkansas-Fort Smith, Wimmer led all MIAA hitters with 4.0 kills per set through seven sets played. The senior hitter recorded a .288 hitting percentage with only five errors on the week. In the Broncho’s 3-0 sweep of the Lions in Arkansas on Saturday, Wimmer landed 20 kills with just one error on 41 attacks for a blistering .463 hitting percentage. She also added 3.0 digs per set (21 total digs) and three blocks on defense.
DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lily Kurz, Missouri Western
Lily Kurz helped anchor the Griffon defense that finished the week with a pair of sweeps over William Jewell and Northwest Missouri. The senior middle hitter totaled 15 blocks (2.50 blocks per set) over the six sets. In Western’s three-set sweep of the Bearcats at home, Kurz recorded a career-high ten blocks to reach the 300-career block milestone. She also added eight kills on the offensive side of the net.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Nessa Johnson, Missouri Western
Nessa Johnson paced the Griffon offense that collected a pair of sweeps last week against William Jewell and Northwest Missouri. The senior finished the week with 65 total assists for an average of 10.83 assists per set while also collecting 25 digs, including her 1,000th career dig against the Cardinals on the road. Johnson recorded double-doubles in both matches, bringing her double-double total to 13 for the season. She also added five kills and three blocks.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
Emilee Lane, Nebraska Kearney
Emilee Lane led the Lopers offense last week as No. 6-ranked Nebraska Kearney collected wins over Sterling College (3-0) and Fort Hays State (3-1). The junior outside hitter totaled 21 kills with a .315 hitting percentage over seven sets for 3.5 kills and 3.5 points per set.
Alex Dvorak, Washburn
Alex Dvorak was the most efficient Ichabod hitter in the five-set victory over the Hornets, picking up 14 kills while hitting .440. The junior middle hitter also added four total blocks with one solo stop and five digs.
DEFENSE
Alli Wiese, Nebraska Kearney
Alli Wiese averaged 7.0 digs per set as No. 6 Nebraska Kearney bounced back from its first loss of the year. The libero collected 34 digs in the Lopers’ 3-1 win over Fort Hays State at home – just four shy of the UNK four-set record and six away from tying the overall dig match record. The Hillsdale transfer is now up to 2,683 career digs.
Katie Le, Central Oklahoma
Katie Le led the Bronchos defensive efforts for No. 10 Central Oklahoma over a pair of MIAA matches with new league member Arkansas Fort Smith. Le totaled 42 digs in the two matches, averaging 6.0 digs per set through seven sets played. The senior libero added a 1.000 reception percentage on 26 attempts. Le recorded 23 digs in the Bronchos four-set loss to the Lions at home. She finished the week with 19 digs in the Bronchos three-set win in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
SETTER
Lindsey Houran, Central Oklahoma
Lindsey Houran set the attack for Central Oklahoma in a split week with new league member Arkansas Fort Smith. The junior dished out 94 total assists in two matches for 13.43 assists per set over seven sets played. The junior had 55 assists in UCO’s home loss to the Lions earlier in the week before adding 39 assists in a three-set sweep on Saturday in Fort Smith. Houran also collected 19 digs on defense while adding one kill, an ace and a block.
ALSO NOMINATED
OFFENSE: Weronika Wrzesinka (Emporia State), Holly Heldt (Missouri Western), Claire Olson (Nebraska Kearney)
DEFENSE: Mia Frisbie (Emporia State), Bella Limback (Washburn), Kirsten Evans (Fort Hays State)
SETTER: Peyton Neff (Nebraska Kearney), Caiya Stucky (Fort Hays State)
2024 MIAA VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
WEEK ONE:
Offensive – Mia Berg, Nebraska Kearney
Defensive – Katie Le, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
WEEK TWO:
Offensive – Sydney Huck, Central Oklahoma
Defensive – Kyah Luhring, Northwest Missouri
Setter – Lindsey Houran, Central Oklahoma
WEEK THREE:
Offensive – Rayishon Jackman, Emporia State
Defensive – Taylor Rottinghaus, Washburn
Setter – Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
WEEK FOUR:
Offensive – Taylor Russell, Missouri Western
Defensive – Alli Wiese, Nebraska Kearney
Setter – Nessa Johnson, Missouri Western
WEEK FIVE:
Offensive – Weronika Wrzesinska, Emporia State
Defensive – Alli Wiese, Nebraska Kearney
Setter – Brailee Bogle, Emporia State
WEEK SIX:
Offensive – Emilee Lane, Nebraska Kearney
Defensive – Kyah Luhring, Northwest Missouri
Setter – Nessa Johnson, Missouri Western
WEEK SEVEN:
Offensive – Sydney Huck, Central Oklahoma
Defensive – Katie Le, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Lindsey Houran, Central Oklahoma
WEEK EIGHT:
Offensive – Addison Wimmer, Central Oklahoma
Defensive – Lily Kurz, Missouri Western
Setter – Nessa Johnson, Missouri Western