USD's Kritenbrink and SDSU's Birath Garner Volleyball Player of Week Honors

9/19/2011 12:00:00 AM

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ELMHURST, Ill. - South Dakota's Kendall Kritenbrink and South Dakota State's Shay Birath were named The Summit League's Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week for their performances Sept. 12-18.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota
Fr., OH
Gretna, Neb./Omaha Gross Catholic
Kritenbrink earns her first career Offensive Player of the Week honor after setting a school-record 34 kills in a single match and leading the Coyotes to an undefeated (2-0) opening weekend in league play. In her first career Summit League match, the freshman set a school record for kills by tallying 34 in the five-set victory over Oral Roberts. Her total ranks second in the league for five-set matches and third for overall matches all time. Kritenbrink ended the weekend with 21 kills in South Dakota's five-set win against Southern Utah. On the weekend, she recorded 55 kills, averaging 5.50 kills per set, 18 digs, four blocks, two assists and one service ace.

Also nominated: Jessie Manwaring, IPFW; Bethany Fogler, IUPUI; Kelsey Knoche, UMKC; Megan Lamberston, North Dakota State; Ashley Nevelle, Oakland; Olivia Ophus, Oral Roberts; Kaitlin Klingemann, South Dakota State; Cashaana Renfro, Southern Utah; Ann Miller, 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.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shay Birath, South Dakota State
Jr., L
Marshall, Minn./Marshall Senior
Birath captures her third career Defensive Player of the Week honor after helping the Jackrabbits open league play undefeated (2-0). The libero posted two double-digit dig matches on the weekend. She kicked off league play with a 28-dig and three-service ace match in a five-set win over IUPUI, followed up by 19 digs in a three-set sweep of Western Illinois. For the weekend, Birath tallied 47 digs, averaging 5.88 digs per set, and three aces. Birath's 5.88 digs per set in league play currently leads the league.

Also nominated: Megan Wiler, IPFW; Shari Bernhardt, IUPUI; Nicole Kerkman, UMKC; Andrea Henning, North Dakota State; Jenna Lange, Oakland; Bruna Silva, Oral Roberts; Carol Logato, South Dakota; Analaine Pelaez-Mailoto, Southern Utah; Bridget Murphy, Western Illinois.

Previous winners: Aug. 29 - Bridget Murphy, Western Illinois; Sept. 6 - Bethany Fogler, IUPUI; Sept. 12 - Tessa McGill, IPFW.