WIU’s Fournier, USD’s Firtko Named #SummitVB Players of the Week
WIU’s Fournier, USD’s Firtko Named #SummitVB Players of the Week
ELMHURST, Ill. – Western Illinois' Samantha Fournier was named The Summit League's Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while South Dakota's Melissa Firtko earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for their performances Oct. 20-26.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Samantha Fournier, Western Illinois
Sr. // RS/S // Coal Valley, Ill.
Fournier earns her second career Offensive Player of the Week honor and first of the season after leading the Leathernecks to an undefeated (1-0) week in league play. The senior recorded her first career triple-double in the 3-1 win over Fort Wayne, marking the Leathernecks' series sweep over the Mastodons. She dished out 39 assists, averaging 9.75 per set, along with 10 digs and 10 kills. The Coal Valley, Ill., native had just one error hitting at the net in 12 attempts for a .750 hitting percentage, while adding a block.
Also nominated: Nola Basey, Denver; Somer Johnson, Fort Wayne; Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Emily Miron, North Dakota State; Michaela Schimmer, Omaha; Laura Milos, Oral Roberts; Kelsey Biltoft, South Dakota.
Previous honorees: Sept. 2 – Laura Milos, Oral Roberts; Sept. 8 – Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne; Sept. 15 – Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota; Sept. 22 – Bailey Karst, Denver; Sept. 29 – Nola Basey, Denver; Oct. 6 – Nola Basey, Denver; Oct. 13 – Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Oct. 20 – Michaela Schimmer, Omaha.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Melissa Firtko, South Dakota
Sr. // MH // Racine, Wis.
Firtko collects her fourth career Defensive Player of the Week award and third of the season. In Sunday's sweep of Omaha, the middle hitter tallied seven blocks, the most by a Coyote in a three-set match since 2000, along with six digs. She recorded five blocks, seven kills and three service aces in a five-set loss to Oral Roberts. On the week, Firtko tallied 12 blocks, nine block assists and three solo blocks, averaging 1.50 blocks per set. She also added 10 digs, 10 kills, four service aces and one assist.
Also nominated: Kate Acker, Denver; Natasha Medic, Fort Wayne; Logan Walling, IUPUI; Emily Milligan, North Dakota State; Mackenzie Horkey, Omaha; Lucija Bojanjac, Oral Roberts; Molly Murphy, Western Illinois.
Previous honoree: Sept. 2 – Kate Acker, Denver/Hailie Ripley, Fort Wayne; Sept. 8 – Melissa Firtko, South Dakota; Sept. 15 – Anna Wrede, Fort Wayne; Sept. 22 – Riley Haug, South Dakota; Sept. 29 – Beth Howard, IUPUI; Oct. 6 – Riley Haug, South Dakota; Oct. 13 – Alexis Mapes, IUPUI/Melissa Firtko, South Dakota; Oct. 20 – Riley Haug, South Dakota.
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 nine institutions, including four 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), Oral Roberts University, 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 along with over 65 All-Americans, 60 Academic All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league and to "See The Summit", visit www.thesummitleague.org, follow on Twitter @thesummitleague, download The Summit League's Front Row app, and watch the weekly "Inside The Summit League" show at www.thesummitleague.org/itsl.
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