Missouri State sophomore right side hitter
Kelley Michnowicz and junior middle blocker
Bethany Fuller each garnered Missouri Valley Conference volleyball awards this week, it was announced by the league office Monday. Michnowicz is the league’s Player of the Week, while Fuller earned the Defensive Player of the Week nod.
Michnowicz led Missouri State in all offensive categories as the Bears picked up road sweeps at Drake and Creighton. She averaged 4.00 kills per set and hit .413, while also contributing 1.83 digs, 1.67 blocks and 0.67 assists per set.
Friday at Drake, the Belleville, Ill., native had eight kills, three assists, seven digs and five blocks before putting together a career match at Creighton the next night. Against the Jays, Michnowicz had a career high 16 kills and hit .536, making one error in 28 total attacks. She also served a pair of aces and totaled five more blocks in the sweep of the Jays.
Fuller recorded eight blocks in each match of the weekend, logging 16 total for a 2.67 per set average. She added five digs in six sets as well, while averaging 3.00 kills on .412 hitting on the offensive side of the ball.
At Drake on Friday, Fuller recorded three solo blocks and five assists to go with two digs and a match-high 12 kills. On Saturday, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, product was a part of eight block assists, including seven in the first set to help the Bears to a 25-22 win in the period. She also had three digs and six kills in the sweep.
The Bears have now won six weekly MVC awards through six weeks of the season.
Calli Norman (Sept. 8) and
Melissa Gmur (Sept. 28) were previously honored as players of the week, and
Cara Hackmann (Sept. 21 and 28) has twice been honored as the league’s top defensive player.
Missouri State is 12-4 overall, 5-0 in league play and received 13 votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll this week, good for 38th place. The Bears host Southern Illinois (13-2, 3-2 MVC) and Evansville (10-7, 3-2) Friday and Saturday at Hammons Student Center. First serve for each match is 7 p.m.
