NDSU’s Purnell, IPFW’s Johnson Garner Summit VB Weekly Awards

ELMHURST, Ill. -- North Dakota State defensive specialist Mikaela Purnell was named Summit League Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week while IPFW outside hitter Somer Johnson earned the league’s Offensive Player of the Week award for their performances during the week of Oct. 5-11.

MIKAELA PURNELL, NORTH DAKOTA STATE
So. // DS // Excelsior, Minn.

·        Named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career

·        Posted 23 digs in 3-0 win over IPFW, her fourth 20-dig match of the season

·        Tallied 18 digs vs. IUPUI for her 14^th match this season with double-digit digs

·        Averaged 5.86 digs her set for the week, more than 1.50 better than her season average

·        Ranks fifth in The Summit League with 260 digs on the season

Also nominated: Lucija Bojanjac, Oral Roberts; Brittany Jessen, South Dakota; Olivia Hahn, IPFW; Courtney Halter, IUPUI; Sarah Schmid, Denver; Lilzzie Palmer, South Dakota State; Kimberly Bailey, Omaha.

Previous honorees: Aug. 31 – Abby Horn, IUPUI; Sept. 8 – Sarah Schmid, Denver; Sept. 14 – Olivia Hahn, IPFW; Sept. 21 – Courtney Halter, IUPUI; Sept. 28 – Sarah Schmid, Denver/Courtney Halter, IUPUI; Oct. 5 – Jovana Poljasevic, Oral Roberts.

SOMER JOHNSON, IPFW
Jr.  // OH // Fort Wayne, Ind.

·        Receives her first career Summit League Offensive Player of the Week award

·        Averaged 5.50 kills per set during the week, 1.54 over her season average

·        Tallied a match-high 22 kills in sweep of South Dakota State, fourth most in IPFW history for a three-set match

·        She hit .316 for the week and is second in the league with 314 kills and 342.0 points

·        Currently ranks second nationally with 970 attacks

Also nominated: Laura Milos, Oral Roberts; Audrey Reeg, South Dakota; Logan Walling, IUPUI; Moni Corrujedo, Denver; Emily Miron, North Dakota State; Nazya Thies, South Dakota State; Megan Schmale, Omaha.

Previous honorees: Aug. 31 – Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Sept. 8 – Laura Milos, Oral Roberts; Sept. 14 – Logan Walling, IUPUI; Sept. 21 – Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Sept. 28 – Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI; Oct. 5 – Laura Milos, Oral Roberts.