SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State senior setter Kelley Johnson and South Dakota fifth-year middle blocker Brynn Paumen garnered the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Volleyball Peak Performers of the Week, league officials announced on Tuesday. Johnson earned the offensive honor, while Paumen collected the defensive nod.
Johnson, who was named to the Mountaineer Invitational All-Tournament team, guided the Bison to a 2-1 mark where she passed out a team-high 114 total assists and averaged a team-best 10.36 assists per set. In a sweep against Robert Morris, Johnson handed out a match-high 30 assists with six digs.
The Eagan, Minn., native added 27 assists with eight digs in a loss to West Virginia. Johnson narrowly missed a triple-double with a season-high 57 assists, 11 digs and a career-high seven kills in a five-set victory over Old Dominion. Additionally, Johnson added 25 digs, 12 kills and six blocks to her stat line.
Paumen and the Coyotes ended its non-conference slate with three wins at the Capital Credit Union Classic. The middle blocker averaged 1.08 blocks per set where she totaled 13 blocks with one solo block. In a five-set win over Green Bay, Paumen registered four digs, two blocks and tacked on eight kills.
The Maple Lake, Minn., native notched six blocks and 12 kills in a four-set win against Illinois State and added four blocks and one dig in a sweep over Central Michigan. In total, Paumen posted 21 kills, six digs and hit .313 through three matches.
Kelley Johnson, North Dakota State
Sr. | S | Eagan, Minn.
- Garnered the first career offensive peak performer of the week honor of her career
- Passed out a team-high 114 assists, averaging 10.36 per set
- Added 25 digs, 12 kills and six blocks
- Narrowly missed a triple-double with a season-high 57 assists, 11 digs and a career-high seven kills in a five-set win over Old Dominion
Also nominated: Sylvie Zgonc (South Dakota State), Madison Harms (South Dakota), McKenna Ruch (Omaha), Odyssey Warren (Kansas City), Trinity Freeman (Oral Roberts), Briley Decker (Denver).
Brynn Paumen, South Dakota
Gr. | MB | Maple Lake,, Minn.
- Received the first career defensive peak performer of the week accolade of her career
- Averaged 1.08 blocks per set, 1.75 kills per set, totaled 13 blocks with one solo block
- Had six blocks and 12 kills in a four-set win of Illinois State, 21 kills over the weekend and hit .313 through three matches
- Collected three solo blocks and three digs
Also nominated: Ali Hinze (North Dakota State), Stella Winterfeld (South Dakota State), McKenna Ruch (Omaha), Kimora Whetstone (Kansas City), Breanna Rivas (Oral Roberts), Ella Voegele (St. Thomas), Gianna Bartalo (Denver).
2023 Volleyball Players of the Week
August 29
O: Ali Hinze, North Dakota State
D: Carley Gillen, Kansas City
September 5
O: Kaia Dunford, Kansas City
D: Leah Green, Kansas City
September 12
O: Morgan Middleton, North Dakota State
D: Madison Harms, South Dakota
September 19
O: Kelley Johnson, North Dakota State
D: Brynn Paumen, South Dakota
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