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 Wednesday, September 1 through Monday, September 6.
Grona was named to the Puget Sound Premiere All-Tournament Team after leading the Pirates with 61 digs, and four service aces as Southwestern went undefeated over the weekend, picking up wins over Pacific Lutheran, Whitman, and Puget Sound.
For the week, Grona had 85 digs for an average of 5.31 digs per set, helping hold opponents to a .106 hitting percentage.
Other impressive performances in the SCAC:
Senior libero Mari Prazak of Austin College had a big week to help the 'Roos go 5-0, totaling 82 digs for an average of 5.13 per set. Prazak reached double-figures in all five matches, with a high of 18 digs against both Dallas Christian and McMurry. She also added nine service aces and 15 assists for the week. Junior libero Nadia Kern of Trinity led the back row with a persistent 3.77 digs/set rate in the Tigers' undefeated opening weekend in the Trinity Fall Classic. Thirty-eight of the junior libero's 49 total digs over the team's first four matches of the season came in notable in-region victories over Hendrix and Whitworth. Against the Warriors, Kern posted a staggering 6.00 digs/set while her effort against the Pirates led the Tigers' back row to drag Whitworth's offense down to just a .139 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Jenny Jenks of Colorado College was a factor on both sides of the net and was voted to the all-tournament team of the 2021 CC Classic by the opposing coaches. She posted three double-doubles (assists, digs) while leading Colorado College to a 4-0 record and the team championship. Jenks averaged 3.54 digs per set and had a hand in two blocked shots to help the Tigers hold their opponents to a combined .134 hitting percentage in four matches. During Friday's four-set victory over St. Catherine University, Jenks recorded career highs of 15 digs and 52 assists. Her efforts helped the Tigers extend the program-record winning streak to 21 matches. Senior libero/outside hitter Lexi Morris of Texas Lutheran averaged 6.40 digs per set as TLU posted a 2-1 mark on the week. She had a match-high 35 digs (8.75 per set) in the team's 3-1 loss to Whitworth. Junior outside hitter/right side Brooke Byer of Schreiner posted double-doubles in all three of the Mountaineers' matches this week and finished the week with 43 total digs (3.58 per set).
| SCAC Volleyball Defensive Players-of-the-Week |
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| Week 1 | Ali Grona, Southwestern University |
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For more SU Pirate photos, please see Carlos Barron Photography