NEW YORK – Marquette swept the first BIG EAST weekly volleyball awards after starting the season undefeated at 3-0 at the Cyclone Invitational. The three wins included a 3-0 upset over No. 21 Iowa State. After their undefeated weekend, the Golden Eagles began receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Meghan Niemann, Marquette, RS-Jr., MH, Jackson, Wis. – Niemann leads the conference in hitting percentage (.538) after helping to lead the Golden Eagles to an undefeated 3-0 weekend a Cyclone Invitational title. Niemann totaled 32 kills with just four errors and helped lead Marquette to a 3-0 sweep over No. 21 Iowa State, the host team. Niemann had a career-high 21 kills over North Dakota and hit .679 with just two errors in a 3-1 victory to open the tournament.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Taylor Louis, Marquette, RS-Fr., OH, Skokie, Ill. – Louis leads the league in kills (59) and kills per set (5.90) after leading Marquette to an undefeated 3-0 weekend a Cyclone Invitational title. The freshman recorded a career-high 27 kills in a 3-1 victory over North Dakota with just two errors and .679 hitting percentage to set the tone early for the Golden Eagles. Louis had double-figure kills in each of the three matches, with 15 against No. 21 Iowa State. She also totaled 26 digs and assisted on six blocks.
BIG EAST Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll
Kenzie Crawford, Creighton, So., S, Grand Rapids, Mich. – Despite a 1-2 weekend for the Bluejays at the Illini Classic, Crawford produced a triple-double against Louisville, finishing with career-best figures of 51 assists, 10 kills and 11 digs, in addition to five blocks. Crawford averaged 10.0 assists, 2.31 digs and 1.54 kills per sit for the weekend.
Callie Huebener, DePaul, Sr. OH, Naperville, Ill. – Named to the Western Illinois Hampton Invitational All-Tournament team leading DePaul in kills (31) and kills per set (2.82) in addition to league-best seven service aces with a career-high five against SIU-Edwardsville.
Kayla Fitzgerald, Providence, Jr., OH, Redlands, Calif. – Earned Boston College Invitational All-Tournament Team accolades after her 39 kill performance against Sacred Heart, Boston College and South Alabama. Fitzgerald recorded two double-doubles, 33 digs and averaged of 3.00 kills per set.
Allie Loitz, Villanova, So., OH, Bonita, Calif. – After a posting a double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs against Stony Brook, Loitz was named to the All-Tournament team at the Penn State Classic. Loitz totaled 38 kills in a 2-1 weekend for the Wildcats.
Abbey Bessler, Xavier, Jr., OH, Hebron, Ky. – Helped the Musketeers post a 2-1 record on the weekend with 49 kills in three matches, second-highest in the league. Bessler also added 45 digs, five blocks and two aces with two double-doubles on Saturday against Cincinnati and Eastern Michigan.