IPFW's Steenhuysen, IUPUI's Bernhardt and OU's Kirk Capture Final Weekly Volleyball Honors
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ELMHURST, Ill. - IPFW's Megan Steenhuysen was named The Summit League's Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week, while IUPUI's Shari Bernhardt and Oakland's Alli Kirk were selected for Co-Defensive honors for their performances Nov. 7-13. The awards mark the final Player of the Week awards of the season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Megan Steenhuysen, IPFW
Jr., S
Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood
Steenhuysen collects her third career Offensive Player of the Week honor and second of the season after leading the Mastodons to an undefeated (2-0) weekend to end the regular season. The junior setter tallied 51 assists in a sweep of Western Illinois and then came back the next match to post 52 in a four-set win over IUPUI. For the week, Steenhuysen recorded 103 assists, averaging 14.71 per set, 12 digs, four kills, three blocks and one service ace. She currently leads the league in assists averaging 11.24 per set with a total of 1,293 on the season.
Also nominated: Alexis Meeks, IUPUI; Ella Meier, UMKC; Brynn Joki, North Dakota State; Jenna Lange, Oakland; Jessica Pancratz, Oral Roberts; Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota; Kelli Fiegen, South Dakota State; Analaine Pelaez-Mailoto, Southern Utah; Heather Smith, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Aug. 29 - Jennifer Lopez, North Dakota State; Sept. 6 - Elizabeth McVicker, Oral Roberts; Sept. 12 - Kelli Fiegen, South Dakota State & Analaine Pelaez-Mailoto, Southern Utah; Sept. 19 - Kendall; Kritenbrink, South Dakota; Sept. 26 - Analaine Pelaez, Southern Utah; Oct. 3 - Tori Kroll, South Dakota; Oct. 10 - Brittany Holbrook, Oakland; Oct. 17 - Megan Lambertson, North Dakota State; Oct. 24 - Megan Steenhuysen, IPFW; Oct. 31 - Jenna Lange, Oakland; Nov. 7 - Kelsey Hoefer, IUPUI.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Shari Bernhardt, IUPUI
Sr., L
Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield
Bernhardt garners her seventh career Defensive Player of the Week honor and third-straight of the season after posting three matches of 20-plus digs, marking her eighth consecutive match of 20 or more digs. The senior libero started off the week with 25 digs in a sweep of Indiana State. Moving on to league play, she collected 31 digs against Oakland, her sixth match of 30-plus digs on the season, and 22 against IPFW. For the week, Bernhardt tallied 78 digs, averaging 7.09 per set and two service aces. In league play alone, she recorded 53 digs and averaged 6.62 per set.
Alli Kirk, Oakland
Jr., DS
Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington
Kirk earns her first career Defensive Player of the Week honor after helping Oakland go undefeated (2-0) to end the regular season and clinch its first-ever league championship berth. The junior defensive specialist recorded back-to-back matches of 20-plus digs with 24 in a four-set win over IUPUI and 30 in a win over Western Illinois. Her tally against the Leathernecks marked her third match of 30 or more digs this season. For the weekend, Kirk collected 54 digs, averaging 6.75 per set and one service ace.
Also nominated: Tessa McGill, IPFW; Christiana McQuin, UMKC; Jennifer Lopez, North Dakota State; Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Riley Haug, South Dakota; Shay Birath, South Dakota State; Cashaana Renfro, Southern Utah; Ann Miller, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Aug. 29 - Bridget Murphy, Western Illinois; Sept. 6 - Bethany Fogler, IUPUI; Sept. 12 - Tessa McGill, IPFW; Sept. 19 - Shay Birath, South Dakota State; Sept. 26 - Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Oct. 3 - Bethany Fogler, IUPUI; Oct. 10 - Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Oct. 17 - Shay Birath, South Dakota State; Tessa McGill, IPFW; Oct. 31 - Shari Bernhardt, IUPUI & Bridget Murphy, Western Illinois; Nov. 7 - Shari Bernhardt, IUPUI.
