Missouri State volleyball players Katelyn Panzau and Shanda Harper swept this week’s Missouri Valley Conference individual awards, with Panzau taking home Player of the Week honors and Harper earning Freshman of the Week recognition, it was announced by the league office Monday.

It is the third time this season and second week in a row that Harper has been honored as the league’s best freshman, and the second time that Missouri State has swept the awards.

Panzau played big in all phases of the game in MSU’s three victories last week, averaging 2.3 kills, 2.3 digs, 1.7 blocks, 0.5 aces, 11.6 assists and 3.70 points per game.

The junior had at least seven kills in each match, hitting .429 or better against Southeast Missouri State and Drake. Panzau’s highlights for the week included eight kills and five blocks in three games at Southeast Missouri State; seven digs, seven blocks and 37 assists against Drake; and eight kills and 10 digs in the win against Creighton.

Harper led the Bears in blocks this week with 2.2 per game to go with a 2.3 kills per game average on the way to contributing 3.4 points per game in MSU’s three victories.

The Willard, Mo., native hit .347 (23-6-49) for the week and hit at least .286 in all three matches. Harper had eight kills and 10 blocks in three games at Southeast Missouri State, six kills on .556 hitting versus Drake and added nine kills and eight blocks against Creighton to help the Bears claim a share of first place in the league.

The Bears hit the road this weekend for a 7 p.m. Friday contest at Northern Iowa and a 7 p.m. Saturday match at Bradley.