KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new volleyball athletes of the week from the fifth week of the 2025 season. Central Missouri swept the weekly honors with Rachel Ziesman named the Offensive Athlete of the Week, Kaelyn McDonald named the Defensive Athlete of the Week and Kayla Baer named the Setter of the Week.

OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Rachel Ziesman, Central Missouri
Rachel Ziesman helped the Jennies to a perfect 3-0 week, including beating #1 Central Oklahoma in four sets inside Hamilton Field House. Ziesman compiled 41 kills on 93 swings for a .344 hitting percentage adding 10 total blocks. Against the Bronchos, she had 16 kills on 34 swings (.382 attack percentage) adding four total blocks. Against the Hawks she had 13 on 30 swings (.333 hitting percentage) with four total blocks including one solo block.

DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kaelyn McDonald, Central Missouri  
Kaelyn McDonald helped the Jennies to a perfect 3-0 week with wins over Rockhurst, Arkansas Fort Smith and Central Oklahoma. McDonald compiled 16 total blocks, averaging 1.23 blocks per set adding 44 kills on 82 swings (.415 hitting percentage). McDonald finished the week with 16 kills and six total blocks in the victory against the Bronchos while having seven total blocks against Rockhurst adding 13 kills.

SETTER OF THE WEEK: Kayla Baer, Central Missouri
Kayla Baer compiled 153 assists over the course of three matches for the week, highlighted by a pair of 53-assist matches against the Hawks and Lions. Against the #1 Bronchos in Edmond, Baer had 47 assists and 11 digs, adding three kills and one service ace.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Brynn Stowell, Nebraska Kearney
Stowell helped #3 UNK survive in 5-sets in St. Joe, recording 26 kills Friday night. The total is just five off the school-record and helped UNK storm back in the first and fourth sets. On the weekend the right side hit .394, averaged 3.7 kps and had seven blocks.

Boglarka Rady, Emporia State
Rady averaged 6.25 digs per set as Emporia State won two road matches to run their win streak to 13 consecutive matches. She had 17 digs with two service aces in the Hornets 3-0 win at Newman on Thursday. She came back with a career high 33 digs in Emporia State's 3-2 come from behind win at Pittsburg State. The 33 digs are the most by a player in an MIAA match this season and the most by a Hornet since Rylie Fornelli had 38 against Missouri Western on November 13, 2021.

Corinna McMullen, Wasburn
Corinna McMullen delivered a pair of 20+ assist matches in two sweeps for No. 10 Washburn. The senior averaged 7.5 assists per set helping the Ichabods hit over .300 as a team on the week. The senior also added 19 digs (3.17 per set) on the defensive end with one double-double.

ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSE – Sydney Huck [Central Oklahoma], Nyia Anderson [Emporia State], Ashlyn Reeves [Fort Hays State], Noelle Sutcliffe [Missouri Western], Austin Broadie [Washburn]
DEFENSE – Kedron Burk [Central Oklahoma], Kirsten Evans [Fort Hays State], Ellie Spang [Nebraska Kearney]
SETTER – Lindsey Houran [Central Oklahoma], Brailee Bogle [Emporia State]

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