SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota’s Elizabeth Junke and Omaha’s McKenna Ruch claimed this week’s TicketSmarter Summit League Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors. Juhnke earned back-to-back offensive awards while Ruch tabbed the accolade on the defensive end for the first time in her career.
 
Juhnke helped South Dakota to a pair of road wins over Western Illinois and St. Thomas over the week. She produced a three-set season-high 19 kills, hit .326 and notched eight digs in the sweep over the Leathernecks. Against the Tommies, she achieved a four-set season-high .481 hitting percentage with 17 kills while also chipping in one assist, two aces, seven digs and a block.
 
Ruch was a dominant force at the net for Omaha helping the Mavericks to three-set victories over North Dakota State and North Dakota. Against NDSU, she notched four blocks and five digs to go along with 10 kills and a .769 clip. Ruch followed up that performance with a team-leading nine total blocks, three digs, seven kills and a .538 hitting percentage against UND.
 
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Jr | OH | Lakeville, Minn.

• Collected her sixth career athlete of the week honor and second consecutive
• Recorded 36 kills, 5.14 kills per set, a .386 clip, 15 digs, 2.14 digs per set and three aces in two matches
• Posted a three-set season-high 19 kills at WIU and a four-set season-high .481 clip at UST

Also nominated: Brianna Green (Denver), McKenna Ruch (Omaha), Crystal Burk (South Dakota State)
 
McKenna Ruch, Omaha
So | MB | Omaha, Neb.

• Earned her first career defensive player of the week honor
• Tallied 13 total blocks, 2.16 blocks per set, 17 kills, 2.83 kills per set, a .654 clip and eight digs in the two matches
• Led the team with nine total blocks against North Dakota

Also nominated: Lolo Weideman (South Dakota), Brianna Green (Denver), Tatum Pickar (South Dakota State)

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