ALI GRONA OF SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, a senior defensive specialist/libero from Fredericksburg, Texas, has been named SCAC Volleyball Defensive Player-of-the-Week for matches played from Monday, September 27 through Sunday, October 3. SCAC Volleyball Release (Week 5)
Grona posted a career-high 38 digs - the most in a single match in the SCAC this season - in Southwestern's 3-2 win over Austin College on her way to 91 digs on the weekend. The senior averaged 6.07 digs per set and anchored a defense that held opponents to a .069 hitting percentage through four matches.
Grona is currently tied for the SCAC lead in total digs with 327 and averaging 5.54 per set (second in the SCAC).
Other impressive performances in the SCAC:
Sophomore middle blocker Maddie Fate of Trinity led the Tigers in blocks in two out of three victories in last weekend's SCAC competition in Shreveport. She posted a career-high seven blocks (2.33 per set) against Austin College in her first start of the 2021 season and added four more blocks against University of Dallas, both three-set victories. Over Trinity's three straight-sets SCAC victories, Fate averaged 1.33 blocks per set. Junior libero Peyton Hummel of Colorado College averaged 4.62 digs per set to help CC record four-set victories over St. Thomas and Texas Lutheran in Houston last Saturday. Hummel had 18 digs against the Celts and 19 against the Bulldogs. Senior libero Lexi Morris of Texas Lutheran added 44 more digs (averaging 4.40 per set) to her conference-leading tally to spearhead the Bulldogs' defensive effort in a 2-1 mark this week, which included a 3-0 victory against St. Thomas to wrap up the weekend. Senior outside hitter Ellise Anable of Dallas helped keep the Crusaders within striking distance against their formidable opponents this weekend. She averaged 4.91 digs per set, racking up 54 digs across three matches. Junior outside hitter/right side Brooke Byer of Schreiner had 58 total digs (3.87 per set) and added six blocks (0.40 per set) in the Mountaineers' four matches this past weekend.
| SCAC Volleyball Defensive Players-of-the-Week |
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| Week 1 | Ali Grona, Southwestern University |
| Week 2 | Paige Havel, University of St. Thomas |
| Week 3 | Georgia Mullins, Colorado College |
| Week 4 | Mari Prazak, Austin College |
| Week 5 | Ali Grona, Southwestern University |
| Week 6 | |
| Week 7 | |
| Week 8 | |
| Week 9 | |
| Week 10 | |
