DU’s Karst, USD’s Haug Named #SummitVB Players of the Week
DU’s Karst, USD’s Haug Named #SummitVB Players of the Week
ELMHURST, Ill. – Denver's Bailey Karst was named The Summit League's Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while South Dakota's Riley Haug earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for their performances Sept. 15-21.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bailey Karst, Denver
Sr. // S // Aurora, Colo.
Karst claims her first career Offensive Player of the Week award after guiding the Pioneers to an undefeated week (4-0), capturing the Denver Invitational title and earning an all-tournament team selection. The Aurora, Colo., native has helped Denver record its best start to a season (11-3) since 2008. She opened the week with 32 assists as the Pioneers hit a .317 clip in a sweep of Air Force. In Friday's five-set victory over San Francisco, she dished out 63 assists, a league-best for a single match this season. On the final day of the Denver Invitational, both four-set wins, the senior setter tallied 42 assists vs. Nevada and 59 against UTEP. On the week, Karst totaled 196 assists, averaging 12.25 per set, 1.81 more assists per set than the league leader. She also added 12 kills with only one error in 29 attempts for a .379 hitting percentage, 29 digs, six blocks and five service aces.
Also nominated: Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne; Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Emily Minnick, North Dakota State; Sara Pope, Oral Roberts; Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota; Ann Miller, Western Illinois.
Previous honorees: Sept. 2 – Laura Milos, Oral Roberts; Sept. 8 – Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne; Sept. 15 – Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Riley Haug, South Dakota
Sr. // DS // Gretna, Neb.
Haug earns Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time of her career after helping the Coyotes to a 2-1 record. South Dakota earned its second win over a power conference opponent in as many weeks and a victory over a team receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll. The senior defensive specialist recorded double-digit digs in all three matches on the weekend and was named to the Creighton Classic All-Tournament team. USD opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Pac-12 foe Colorado as Haug posted 23 digs and three service aces. She matched that dig total in the five-set win over Creighton, who was receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll, and added 18 digs in a loss to No. 16 Illinois. For the weekend, Haug tallied 64 digs, averaging 5.33 per set, along with nine assists and three service aces.
Also nominated: Cassie Baird, Denver; Sarah Heckman, Fort Wayne; Logan Walling, IUPUI; Emily Milligan, North Dakota State; Kimberly Bailey, Omaha; Maggie Dipronio, 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.
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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