GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following Week 9 of the 2021 volleyball season. Wayne State sophomore Alexa Withun earned GLIAC Volleyball North Division Player of the Week honors, while Ferris State senior Katie O'Connell received the GLIAC Volleyball South Division Player of the Week award.
NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Alexa Withun - Wayne State
Sophomore opposite Alexa Withun (Troy, Mich.) helped Wayne State volleyball to a 2-0 weekend with wins at Northwood and Lake Superior State. On Friday, she totaled 14 kills, hitting .462 along the way. Withun also posted two blocks versus the Timberwolves. She had six kills on nine swings on Saturday at LSSU.
SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Katie O'Connell - Ferris State
Ferris State University senior hitter Katie O'Connell (Evergreen Park, Ill.) had a huge week for the Bulldogs as FSU stretched its winning streak to 14 consecutive matches. O'Connell produced 33 kills and 33 digs to go with five total blocks as the Bulldogs captured two impressive road wins. She totaled a team-leading 17 kills and 17 digs in Tuesday's 3-0 non-league regional road triumph over nationally 18th-ranked Hillsdale and then came back with a squad-best 16 kills and 16 digs in Friday's 3-0 sweep over West Michigan rival Grand Valley State. O'Connell hit .412 or better in each match and averaged 5.5 kills and 5.5 digs per set in the back-to-back wins as FSU. The victory over GVSU pushed FSU's lead to two matches in the GLIAC South Division standings and moved the Bulldogs to 19-4 overall this year.
HONORABLE MENTION
NORTH: Rylee Zimmer (SVSU), Anna Jonynas (MTU), Megan Acs (NU), Olivia Webber (NMU)
SOUTH: Riley Groves (DU), Riley Kraiza (PNW), Lexi Packard (UWP), Jaelianna Primus (GVSU)
