KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new volleyball athletes of the week from week seven the 2025 season. Nebraska Kearney’s Carly Purdy and Peyton Neff earned the Offensive Athlete of the Week and Setter of the Week honors while Central Oklahoma’s Kaitlyn Parrott was named the Defensive Athlete of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Carly Purdy, Nebraska Kearney
Carly Purdy averaged 4.9 kills per set while hitting .256 to help No. 5-ranked Nebraska Kearney end a rare two-match losing streak after collecting MIAA wins over Arkansas-Fort Smith (3-0) and No. 4-ranked Central Oklahoma (3-1). The fifth year outside hitter totaled an MIAA leading 34 kills on the week while adding 1.1 digs per set. Purdy had a career-high 20 kills in the win over the ranked Bronchos after recording 14 in a Thursday win over the Lions. Purdy has now reached double figures in kills in 15 matches this season. This is also her second MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honor of the season (week three and week seven).
DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kaitlyn Parrott, Central Oklahoma
Kaitlyn Parrott led No. 4 Central Oklahoma on the defensive side of the floor with 56 digs in two matches, totaling a league high 8.00 digs per set through seven sets played on the road this weekend. Parrott had 20 digs in a three-set sweep at Fort Hays State. She then dug up a season-high 36 in a grueling four-set loss at No. 5 Nebraska Kearney, where the second set ended 35-33 and the fourth set finished 30-28. Parrott posted a 1.000 reception percentage on 67 attempts. She also dished out three assists. This is her second MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honor this season (week one and week seven).
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
Peyton Neff helped the No. 5-ranked Lopers to a pair of home wins over Arkansas-Fort Smith and No. 4-ranked Central Oklahoma in week seven. Neff averaged 14.0 assists, 2.9 digs, and 0.7 blocks per set to help Nebraska Kearney remained unbeaten at home this season. The Lopers hit .275 on the week and averaged a healthy 16.7 kills per set as a team. This is Neff’s third MIAA Setter of the Week honor this season, also earning the title in weeks two and four.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Lavra Krizanic, Emporia State
Lavra Krizanic averaged 3.75 kills per set as Emporia State improved to 8-1 in the MIAA with a pair of home wins last week. The freshman outside hitter had 16 kills and four blocks in the Hornets 3-2 win over then No. 24-ranked Central Missouri last Friday night. In the second set, she had back-to-back kills to turn a 23-22 deficit into a 24-23 lead, then added a solo block to give the Hornets a 27-26 lead on the way to the 28-26 win to even the match at 1-1. It was Emporia State's third win over a nationally ranked team this season. She hit .355 with 14 kills in the Hornets 3-0 win over Missouri Southern. After a hard fought 28-26 win in set one against the Lions, Krizanic totaled four kills and a block assist as the Hornets jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the second set on the way to a 25-12 lead.
Emma Salker, Missouri Western
Emma Salker turned in a strong offensive performance across three matches last week as the Griffons defeated Northwest Missouri (3-0), Pittsburg State (3-1) and Newman (3-0) at home. The senior totaled 31 kills with a .349 hitting percentage over the 10 sets. She opened the week with eight kills against the Bearcats, followed with 16 kills versus the Gorillas, then added seven more in the win over the Jets. Averaging 3.10 kills per set, Salker finished the stretch with 37.0 total points and a 3.7 points-per-set average, continuing to be a reliable presence on the attack for the Griffons.
Mia Frisbie, Emporia State
Mia Frisbie averaged 1.38 blocks per set and hit .346 in Emporia State's wins over then No. 24 Central Missouri (3-2) and Missouri Southern (3-0). The sophomore middle blocker had seven kills and seven block assists in the Hornets 3-2 victory over the Jennies. She had four block assists and a kill in Emporia’s 25-18 victory in set three to take a 2-1 lead. The victory over the Jennies was Emporia State's third win over a nationally ranked team this season. Frisbie also hit .444 with five kills and four blocks in the Hornets sweep of Missouri Southern.
Ella Caffery, Northwest Missouri
Ella Caffery averaged 11.22 assists and 3.22 digs per set as Northwest captured a pair of MIAA victories at home. The senior opened the week with 30 assists, 14 digs and two blocks in a three-set setback earlier in the week at Missouri Western. She then tallied 34 assists, six kills, three digs and a block in a 3-0 triumph over Newman. Caffery ended the week with 37 assists, eight digs, five kills, three blocks and two service aces in a three set sweep of Pittsburg State.
ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSE – Kasidy Mohwinkle [Northwest Missouri], Bella Limback [Washburn], Lari Migliorino [Central Oklahoma]
DEFENSE – Anna Weberg [Missouri Western], Karsen VanScoy [Northwest Missouri], Taylor Rottinghaus [Washburn], Ellie Spang [Nebraska Kearney]
SETTER – Lindsey Houran [Central Oklahoma], Brailee Bogle [Emporia State], Corinna McMullen [Washburn]
WEEK ONE:
Offensive – Kedron Burk, Central Oklahoma
Defensive – Kaitly Parrott, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Lindsey Houran, Central Oklahoma
WEEK TWO:
Offensive – Taylor Russell, Missouri Western
Defensive – Mikiah Perdue, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
WEEK THREE:
Offensive – Carly Purdy, Nebraska Kearney
Defensive – Mikiah Perdue, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Lindsey Houran, Central Oklahoma
WEEK FOUR:
Offensive – Camilla Ossola, Emporia State
Defensive – Mia Frisbie, Emporia State
Setter – Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney
WEEK FIVE:
Offensive – Rachel Ziesman, Central Missouri
Defensive – Kaelyn McDonald, Central Missouri
Setter – Kayla Baer, Central Missouri
WEEK SIX:
Offensive – Alex Dvorak, Washburn
Defensive – Grace Winklemann, Central Missouri
Setter – Katelyn Diani-Oday, Missouri Western
WEEK SEVEN:
Offensive – Carly Purdy, Nebraska Kearney
Defensive – Kaitlyn Parrott, Central Oklahoma
Setter – Peyton Neff, Nebraska Kearney