SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Following performances that helped propel their respective teams to a pair of wins, South Dakota’s Elizabeth Juhnke and Omaha’s McKenna Ruch were named the TicketSmarter Summit League Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Peak Performers of the Week, respectively.
Juhnke earned the offensive honor after being named to the USD hosted Coyote Invitational All-Tournament Team. The Lakeville, Minn., native posted three-match totals of 51 kills, 23 digs and averaged 4.64 kills per set along with six assists. Juhnke opened the invitational against No. 4 Louisville, a Final Four opponent from last season, with a match-high 15 kills on 41 swings and a .220 hitting percentage.
In the Coyotes’ three-set victory over Northern Kentucky, she recorded a match-high 14 kills along with four blocks and a service ace. Juhnke closed the invitational posting another match-high of 22 kills and became the sixth player in program history to reach 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills against Missouri.
Ruch garnered the defensive honor after leading all players in the South Carolina hosted Carolina Classic in blocks (22.0) and blocks per set (2.00). The Omaha, Neb., native paced all players in the season opening three-set victory against Winthrop with five blocks. Against South Carolina, Ruch led the team with five blocked shots along with being second in kills with eight.
In a five-set win against Sacred Heart, Ruch closed out the tournament with a career-high 12 blocks and currently ranks sixth nationally in total blocks and eighth in blocks per set.
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Jr. | OH | Lakeville, Minn.
- Collected the seventh offensive weekly award of her career
- Named to the Coyote Invitational all-tournament team
- Averaged 4.64 kills per set and became the sixth player in school history to reach the 1,000 dig/1,000 kill club
- Tallied 51 kills and a .238 hitting percentage on opening weekend
Also nominated: Crystal Burk (South Dakota State), Odyssey Warren (Kansas City), Trinity Freeman (Oral Roberts), Hailey Green (Denver), Aubrey Putman (Western Illinois), Shayla McCormick (Omaha), Ali Hinze (North Dakota State)
McKenna Ruch, Omaha
Jr. | MB | Omaha, Neb.
- Claimed the third career defensive player of the week accolade of her career
- Led all players in the Carolina Classic in blocks (22.0) and block per set (2.00)
- Currently ranks sixth nationally in total blocks and eighth in blocks per set
- Tallied a career-high 12 blocks against Sacred Heart and is more than a third of the way to her 2021 total of 59 blocks
Also nominated: Raegen Reilly (South Dakota State), Kennedy Schritenthal (Kansas City), Sakira LaCour (Oral Roberts), Brianna Green (Denver), Brooklyn Schram (South Dakota), Ava Schmoll (North Dakota State)
2022 Volleyball Players of the Week
August 30
O: Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
D: McKenna Ruch, Omaha
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