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ATLANTA - The Austin Peay duo of Mikayla Powell and Kelsey Mead joined the Bellarmine tandem of Anna Lococo and Natalie Bland in claiming this week's Atlantic Sun Conference Volleyball honors, announced Tuesday by the league office.
Volleyball Player of the Week
Mikayla Powell, Austin Peay
Senior | Outside Hitter | Overland Park, Kan.
- First Career ASUN Player of the Week award; first in Austin Peay program history
- Helped the Govs extend their winning streak to three matches with a 5.54 kills per set average
- Opened the weekend with 18 kills against Lindenwood and added seven digs
- Followed up later that day with 24 kills in a defeat of Indiana State along with eight more digs
- Notched a double-double on Saturday against ULM with 15 digs and a career-best 30 kills
Other Nominees: Charlie TIdwell, Central Arkansas; AG Vandagriff, EKU; Juliana Lentz, FGCU; Jada DiVita, Lipscomb; Kailey McKnight, North Florida; Anabelle Standish, Stetson.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Anna Lococo, Bellarmine
Senior | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Louisville, Ky.
- First Career ASUN Defensive Player of the Week award; first all-time honor for Bellarmine
- Named to the Bellarmine Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 6.20 digs per set
- Tallied 23 digs in the Knights' sweep of New Orleans on Friday to open the event
- Recorded 18 digs in another three-set victory for BU when the squad defeated Southern Indiana
- Ended the weekend with 21 digs against Murray State; also recorded four service aces across the tournament
Other Nominees: Josie Schmitendor, EKU; Juliana Lentz, FGCU; Kristina Nika, Jacksonville; Shelby Dennis, Kennesaw State; Delaney Smith, Lipscomb; Rocio Moro, North Florida; Jesse George, Queens; Sugimoto Haruka, Stetson.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kelsey Mead, Austin Peay
Graduate | Setter | Tallahassee, Fla.
- First Career ASUN Setter of the Week honor; first honor in program history for the Governors
- Led Austin Peay to a 3-0 record at the Lindenwood Invitational with a 10.46 assists per set average
- Bookended the event with 33 assists against the host Lions and 49 against ULM
- Recorded the most assists in a match since her freshman season with 54 in Friday's defeat of Indiana State
- Posted three double-doubles over the weekend with double-digit dig numbers in each win
Other Nominees: Caylan Koons, Central Arkansas; Chloe Mason, EKU; Lily Tessier, FGCU; Rebecca Rocassin, Jacksonville; Sophia Hudepohl, Lipsocmb; Annie Antar, Noth Florida; Nyah Molina, Stetson
Volleyball Freshman of the Week
Natalie Bland, Bellarmine
Freshman | Outside Hitter | Aiken, S.C.
- First Career ASUN Freshman of the Week honor; second Freshman award for the Knights
- Earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Bellarmine Classic after helping BU to a 2-1 record
- Recorded the first two double-doubles of her career in matchups with New Orleans and Murray State
- Tallied 13 kills and 11 digs in the victory against the Privateers on Friday while adding one block
- Notched 16 kills, 12 digs and two solo rejections in Saturday's contest with the Racers
Other Nominees: Emilee Hill, EKU; Alija Heins, Jacksonville; Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State.
2023 Season Award Winners
Sept. 5 | Player: Mikayla Powell, Austin Peay; Defensive Player: Anna Lococo, Bellarmine; Setter: Kelsey Mead, Austin Peay; Freshman: Natalie Bland, Bellarmine
Aug. 28 | Player: Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State; Defensive Player: Sophia Groom, Stetson; Setter: Nyah Molina, Stetson; Freshman: Avery Markham, North Alabama