Fort Wayne Sweeps Initial Weekly Volleyball Honors

9/3/2013 12:00:00 AM

ELMHURST, Ill. – Fort Wayne's Emily Spencer and Jen Milligan were named The Summit League's Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for their performances during the season opening weekend, Aug. 29-31. The awards mark the initial Player of the Week honors of the season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne
Jr. // OH // Jenison, Mich.
Spencer garners Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Mastodons to an undefeated (3-0) opening weekend and tournament crown, while being named MVP of the IPFW Hyatt Place Invitational. The junior outside hitter also reached her 1,000^th career kill in a sweep of Southern Illinois. She tallied double-digit kills in all three matches on the weekend, including a 17-kill, 13-dig double-double in the championship match against Connecticut. For the weekend, Spencer posted a .325 hitting percentage with 53 kills to average a league-leading 5.30 kills per set. She also added 21 digs, seven blocks, two service aces and two assists. The Jenison, Mich., native earned her third career weekly honor.

Also nominated: Colleen King, Denver; Alexis Meeks, IUPUI, Emily Minnick, North Dakota State; Megan Schmale, Omaha; Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota; Ann Miller, Western Illinois.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jen Milligan, Fort Wayne
Sr. // DS // LaGrange Park, Ill.
Milligan collects Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping Fort Wayne to the IPFW Hyatt Place Invitational title with an undefeated (3-0) record and earning a spot on the all-tournament team. The LaGrange Park, Ill., native posted double-digit digs in all three matches, including a tournament-high 24 against Connecticut for the tournament championship. On the weekend, Milligan tallied 48 digs, averaging a league-best 4.80 digs per set, along with eight assists and four service aces. This marks the first career honor for the senior defensive specialist.

Also nominated: Kate Acker, Denver; Ariel Listebarger, North Dakota State; Kimberly Bailey, Omaha; Kaitlyn Hastings, South Dakota; Bailey Kaloupek, Western Illinois.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State 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 eight NCAA Champions, 62 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-America selections.

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