Story Courtesy of Ferris State Sports Information Department
Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University senior hitter Katie O'Connell (Evergreen Park, Ill.Chicago Mother McAuley) has been tabbed as the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week for her efforts this past weekend.
The honor was announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. O'Connell is the fifth Bulldog player in history to garner the AVCA National Player of the Week Award and the first since former standout All-America hitter Allyson Cappel earned the distinction back in 2018
O'Connell was previously chosen as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Volleyball North Division Player of the Week following a big weekend of action.
The senior standout led FSU to an impressive weekend sweep over previously unbeaten and GLIAC leader Ashland at home last weekend. O'Connell tallied 41 kills with 49 digs, eight blocks and an ace on the weekend, averaging 5.86 kills and 7.00 digs per set while hitting an impressive .379 overall.
She had 24 kills and 26 digs while notching her 1,000th career dig in Friday's 3-1 win over the Eagles before coming back with a match-high 17 kills and 23 digs in Saturday's 3-0 sweep to finish the homestand.
With the two wins, Ferris State improved to 5-1 overall. FSU remains midst a three-way tie atop the GLIAC North Division standings with Northern Michigan and Northwood.
The Bulldogs hit the road this weekend to face Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, in Houghton. The opening match gets underway on Friday at 2 p.m. (ET) with Saturday's finale set to start at 12 p.m. (ET).
2021 SPORTS IMPORTS/AVCA DIVISION II WOMEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KATIE O'CONNELL – FERRIS STATE
Senior, Outside Hitter, 6-0 (Evergreen Park, Illinois - Chicago Mother McAuley)
Individual Weekly Stats
SP: 7
K/S: 5.86
Hitting %: .379
D/S: 7.00
B/S: 1.14
Team Recap
March 5: Ashland, W 3-1
March 6: Ashland, W 3-0
Head Coach: Tia Brandel-Wilhelm
AVCA Rankings: No. 25
Named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week for the second time this season…Notched her 1,000th career dig in Friday's 3-1 win over Ashland…Exploded for 24 kills, 26 digs, six blocks, and a .362 hitting percentage in Friday's win…Continued to play at a high level in Saturday's three-set win with 17 kills at a .405 clip…Recorded 23 digs to grab her second double-double in as many days. Averaged 5.86 kills per set and 7.00 digs per set as the Bulldogs entered the AVCA Women's Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll at No. 25 this week.
O'Connell is the 5th Bulldog to receive Sports Imports/AVCA Player of the Week honors. Allyson Cappel was the last Ferris State student-athlete to be named the Sports Imports/AVCA Player of the Week when she took home the honor on August 28, 2018.
