RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the volleyball players of the week for the fifth week of the 2024 season. Henderson State’s Katilyn Steffes earned Offensive Player of the Week; Southeastern OKlahoma State’s Patience Lewis claimed Defensive Player of the Week and East Central’s Julia Kabala captured Setter of the Week.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katilyn Steffes, OH, Henderson State, Jr., Rochester, Minnesota
Steffes led the Reddie offense in victories against Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas-Monticello. Against the rival Tigers, she tallied 28 kills and hit .354. The 28 kills represent the single-match high in the GAC thus far this season. She added 12 digs and four aces. She followed up with 10 kills and two aces in Henderson State’s sweep of the Blossoms. She averaged 5.94 points per set.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Patience Lewis, DS/L, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Jr. Pearland, Texas
Lewis averaged a league-leading 7.63 digs per set as the Savage Storm split four-set matches with Southern Nazarene and Southwestern Oklahoma State. She registered consecutive 30-dig performances as she tallied 30 in a win against the Crimson Storm and 31 against the Bulldogs.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK – Julia Kabala, S, East Central, Sr., Warsaw, Poland
Kabala repeated as the league’s Setter of the Week after paced the GAC in assists per set, 12.25. She set a career high with 62 assists in the Tigers’ four-set win against Oklahoma Baptist. She became the first DII player with at least 60 assists in a four-set match this season. She added 22 digs. She followed up with 37 assists and 12 digs in a four-set win against Southern Nazarene.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Erika Asencio Soriano, OH (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Odalys Gonzalez, OH (East Central), Jill Leslie, MB (Oklahoma Baptist), Skyler McKinnon, OH (Harding), D’Nari Mills, OH (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Lacy Mott, OH (Southwestern Oklahoma State), Kailey Thedford, OH (Ouachita Baptist)
Brianda Diaz, DS (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Haley Fairchild, MB (Ouachita Baptist), Ashley Lamkin, MB (Harding), Kaylon Partain, DS (Henderson State), Jada Permenter, L (Southwestern Oklahoma State), Valentina Tijerina, L (East Central)
Emily Boyer, S (Oklahoma Baptist), Ruthie Forson, S (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Courtney Hanson, S (Ouachita Baptist), Braxton Jones, S (Henderson State), Hennesys Lalane, S (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Olivia Wiedower, S (Harding)
A three-person committee selects all GAC Athlete of the Week awards