RITA ARAYA OF AUSTIN COLLEGE, a sophomore middle hitter from Richardson, Texas, has been named SCAC Volleyball Defensive Player-of-the-Week for matches played from Monday, September 9 through Sunday, September 15. SCAC Volleyball Release (Week 3)
Araya was unstoppable at the net for Austin College, posting 23 total blocks as the 'Roos went 3-1 over the weekend. Araya had three matches with at least five total blocks, averaging 1.53 blocks-per-set, and had a high of nine total blocks in a four-set win over LeTourneau.
Other impressive performances in the SCAC:
Senior defensive specialist/libero Hannah Page of McMurry averaged 6.23 digs per set as the War Hawks went 2-2 over the weekend. Her 24 against LeTourneau on Friday are the second-most by a SCAC player in a three-set match this season. Senior libero/defensive specialist Faith Coldewey of Texas Lutheran led the Bulldogs with 92 digs (5.75 per set) over the course of the team's four matches at the Ohio Wesleyan/Bishop Invitational. She also chipped in with six service aces and 25 assists. Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Meghan Gannon of Colorado College collected a season-high 24 digs against UW-Eau Claire and added 14 in the three-set victory over Concordia-Moorhead. She averaged 5.0 digs per set for the weekend.First-year outside hitter Faith Zoch of Concordia (Texas) posted a game-high and career-high 23 digs in Friday's five-set thriller against Howard Payne - the second match of a doubleheader. The freshman averaged 4.60 digs per set and added a career-high 19 kills in the victory. Junior outside hitter Payton Shiflet of Southwestern averaged 3.88 digs per set in two matches, with her best game coming against Hardin-Simmons where she had twenty-three digs. Shiflet had twenty-one returns and no errors, along with two aces on the other end in the Pirates' 3-0 win against 13-0 UMHB. First-year libero Annabelle Lanik of Trinity led the 11th-ranked Tigers with 34 digs (2.62 per set) at the Trinity National Invitational this weekend, with the team finishing in second place with a 2-1 record.Junior defensive specialist Jenna Palomarez of Schreiner had 16 digs (5.33 per set) in the Mountaineers' 3-1 loss to NAIA Our Lady of the Lake on Friday.
| SCAC Volleyball Defensive Players-of-the-Week |
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| Week 1 | Geneva Nedrow, Southwestern University |
| Week 2 | Lily McWhorter, Southwestern University |
| Week 3 | Rita Araya, Austin College |
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