USD secures back-to-back sweeps of weekly honors

9/17/2019 12:00:00 AM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota junior outside hitter Sami Slaughter and senior libero Anne Rasmussen earned this week's Summit League Volleyball Player of the Week awards after both registered impressive performances during the weekend to help the Coyotes finish 3-0. This marks back-to-back sweeps for the Coyotes, who are now 9-1 on the season.

Slaughter earned the offensive honor after guiding the Coyotes to three wins in the South Dakota Classic. She hammered down 16 kills with one error for a .600 hitting percentage in the four-set win over Wyoming and accounted for 17 kills on a .316 hitting percentage in the five-set victory over Big Ten-foe Iowa. Slaughter was named to the all-tournament team after she recorded a .420 hitting percentage during tournament play.

Rasmussen led the defensive pack for the Coyotes this weekend, recording 63 total digs and a 5.25 average digs per set. She tallied a season-high 30 digs in the five-set win over the Hawkeyes and added 22 more in the 3-1 victory over Wyoming. For her efforts during the weekend, Rasmussen was named the South Dakota Classic MVP.

Sami Slaughter, South Dakota
Junior | OH | Harrisburg, S.D.

Claimed her first career offensive player of the week honor
Has produced double-figure kills in all nine South Dakota wins this season
Named to the all-tournament team after hitting at a .420 clip in three matches

Also nominated: Katie Crowe (Purdue Fort Wayne), CeCe Madison (Oral Roberts), Kalli Hegerle (North Dakota State), Ashley Brueggeman (North Dakota), Lydia Bartalo (Denver), Aubrey Putman (Western Illinois)

Anne Rasmussen, South Dakota
Senior | L | Oak Creek, Wis.

Claimed her seventh career defensive player of the week honor
Was named South Dakota Classic MVP for her performance during the tournament
Tallied a season-high 30 digs in the 3-2 victory over the Big Ten's Iowa

Also nominated: Rachael Crucis (Purdue Fort Wayne), Sarah Thiessen (Oral Roberts), Bella Lien (North Dakota State), Lydia Rutten (North Dakota), Macy Carrabine (Denver), Gabriella DePersio (Western Illinois)

Previous Players of the Week
September 3
Offense: Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Defense: Claire Mountjoy, Omaha

September 10
Offense: Madison Jurgens, South Dakota
Defense: Maddie Wiedenfeld, South Dakota

Follow The Summit League
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #ReachTheSummit | #SummitVB