SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kansas City’s Melanie Brecka and Omaha’s McKenna Ruch took home this week’s TicketSmarter Summit League Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards. Brecka notched the offensive honor while Ruch earned back-to-back defensive accolades.
 
Brecka helped Kansas City to a pair of home wins over St. Thomas and Western Illinois over the week. In the sweep over UST to open the week she hammered down 12 kills with zero errors on 18 attempts for a career-high .667 hitting percentage. She continued to guide the Roo’s offensive effort against WIU where she threw down 21 kills on a .395 clip.
 
Ruch led the team in blocks in both matches to help Omaha to a pair of road wins over South Dakota State (3-0) and South Dakota (3-1) to clinch a share of the regular-season title. She recorded five total blocks in both matches and held her own in the back row tallying six digs on the week.
 
Melanie Brecka, Kansas City
Sr | RS | Lincoln, Neb.

• Collected her third career athlete of the week honor and second this season
• Recorded 33 kills, 4.71 kills per set, a .395 clip, 13 digs, three assists and two aces in two matches
• Swung down 12 kills with zero errors on 18 attempts for a career-high .667 clip against UST

Also nominated: Hailey Green (Denver), Trinity Freeman (Oral Roberts), Shayla McCormick (Omaha), Elizabeth Juhnke (South Dakota)
 
McKenna Ruch, Omaha
So | MB | Omaha, Neb.

• Earned her second consecutive career defensive player of the week honor
• Tallied 10 total blocks, 1.4 blocks per set, six digs, 14 kills and three aces in two road matches
• Led the team with five total blocks a match against USD and SDSU

Also nominated: Gianna Bartalo (Denver), Sakira LaCour (Oral Roberts), Carly Gillen (Kansas City), Madison Harms (South Dakota)

2021 Volleyball Players of the Week
August 31
O: Lydia Bartalo, Denver
D: Sarah Thiessen, Oral Roberts
 
September 7
O: Sadie Limback, Omaha
D: Maddie Renn, Kansas City
 
September 14
O: Madison Harms, South Dakota
D: Michelle Glover, North Dakota State
 
September 21
O: Sadie Limback, Omaha
D: Claire Mountjoy, Omaha
 
September 28
O: Melanie Brecka, Kansas City
D: Rylee Marshall, Omaha
 
October 5
O: Madison Harms, South Dakota
D: Sakira LaCour, Oral Roberts
 
October 12
O: Sadie Limback, Omaha
D: Tatum Pickar, South Dakota State
 
October 19
O: Brianna Green, Denver
D: Sakira LaCour, Oral Roberts
 
October 26
O: Aixa Vigil, Oral Roberts
D: Gianna Bartalo, Denver
 
November 1
O: Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
D: Lolo Weideman, South Dakota
 
November 9
O: Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
D: McKenna Ruch, Omaha
 
November 16
O: Melanie Brecka, Kansas City
D: McKenna Ruch, Omaha