SDSU’s Klingemann and OU’s Kirk Earn Volleyball Players of the Week
SDSU’s Klingemann and OU’s Kirk Earn Volleyball Players of the Week
ELMHURST, Ill. – South Dakota State's Kaitlin Klingemann and Oakland's Alli Kirk were named The Summit League's Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week for their performances Sept. 4-9.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kaitlin Klingemann, South Dakota State
Sr. // MH // Omaha, Neb.
Klingemann captures her first career Offensive Player of the Week award after being named the Jackrabbit Invitational MVP and leading her squad to its second-straight non-league tournament crown. The senior middle hitter opened the week with a .500 clip and 10 kills in a sweep of North Dakota. She then went on to tally 18 kills and a .366 hitting percentage in a five-set win over Green Bay and 15 kills and a .414 hitting percentage against Bradley. For the week, Klingemann posted a .407 clip with 43 kills, averaging 3.31 kills per set, 10 blocks, five service aces and 54.0 points (4.2 per set).
Also nominated: Megan Steenhuysen, Fort Wayne; Kelsey Hoefer, IUPUI; Jessica Hendin, Kansas City; Brynn Joki, North Dakota State; Meghan Bray, Oakland; Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota.
Previous winners: Aug. 27 – Kelli Fiegen, SDSU; Sept. 4 – Meghan Bray, OU.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alli Kirk, Oakland
Sr. // DS // Bloomington, Ill.
Kirk garners her second career Defensive Player of the Week award and first of the season after earning MVP honors at the Cleveland State Tournament and helping the Golden Grizzlies win their second consecutive non-league tournament. The tournament title marked the first time OU has won two preseason tournaments in a single season. The Bloomington, Ill., native recorded double-digit dig totals in all four matches on the week. She had her best performance of 33 digs in a five-set victory over Cleveland State to give Oakland the tournament crown. On the week, Kirk recorded 95 digs, averaging 6.33 per set, 14 assists, three service aces and two kills.
Also nominated: Jessie Mawaring, Fort Wayne; Bethany Fogler, IUPUI; Emma Hagedorn, Kansas City; Andrea Henning, North Dakota State; Tori Kroll, South Dakota; Kelli Fiegen, South Dakota State.
Previous winners: Aug. 27 – Tessa McGill, IPFW; Sept. 4 – Kelli Fiegen, SDSU.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
Entering its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 144,000 at nine universities, four of which are located in top 58 U.S. metro populations (Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Omaha). Member institutions include: Fort Wayne (Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), Kansas City (University of Missouri-Kansas City), North Dakota State University, Oakland University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced 54 All-Americans, 37 Academic All-America selections and seven NCAA Championships. For more information about the league and its history, visit www.thesummitleague.org to "See The Summit" or follow on Twitter @thesummitleague.
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