RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the volleyball players of the week for the opening week of the 2024 season. Harding’s Skyler McKinnon and Southeastern Oklahoma State’s D’Nari Mills shared Offensive Player of the Week; Oklahoma Baptist’s Karsyn Hunter won Defensive Player of the Week and Ouachita Baptist’s Courtney Hanson earned Setter of the Week.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Skyler McKinnon, OH, Harding, Gr., Trophy Club, Texas
McKinnon helped the Lady Bisons pick up a pair of wins at the Union Volleyball Classic. She opened with 14 kills and 12 digs in a win against Limestone. She followed up with 12 kills against Carson Newman and 17 against Missouri-St. Louis. She closed with 13 in a sweep of Union. She hit .284 across the four contests and averaged 3.73 kills per set.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – D’Nari Mills, OH, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Jr., Cypress, Texas
Mills averaged 4.00 kills and 4.34 kills per set across the Savage Storm’s opening four games. She totaled three double-doubles after registering 13 kills and 10 digs against Mississippi College, 19 kills and 11 digs against St. Mary’s followed by 17 kills and 13 digs against Missouri S&T. She added four service aces.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Karsyn Hunter, L, Oklahoma Baptist, Jr., Forney, Texas
Hunter led the GAC in digs per set for the opening weekend as she averaged 5.62 in the Bison’s four games. She debuted with 14 digs in a sweep of Spring Hill. In a four-set win againsts Wheeling, she amassed a career-high 28. She came up with 21 in a three-set contest against Southwest Minnesota State. She finished with 10 against West Florida.
#theGAC VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK – Courtney Hanson, S, Ouachita Baptist, Jr., Arlington, Texas
Hanson averaged 9.80 assists per set as the Tigers went 3-1 at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational. She registered double-doubles against Missouri S&T, Mississippi College and McKendree. She served up multiple aces in all four games and finished the weekend with a GAC-leading nine assists
OTHERS NOMINATED
Riley Braziel, OH (Ouachita Baptist), Kayte Delong, OH (Southern Arkansas), Jill Leslie, MB (Oklahoma Baptist), Savannah Meyer, OH (Arkansas Tech), Macy Shreffler, OH (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Emma Strickland, OH (East Central), Christiane Uzoh, OH (Henderson State), Natalie White, RS (Arkansas-Monticello)
Brianda Diaz, DS (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Avery Jauz, DS/L (Ouachita Baptist), Ashley Lamkin, MB (Harding), Isla Olivas, MH (Southern Arkansas), Katilyn Steffes, OH (Henderson State), Valentina Tijerina, L (East Central)
Emily Boyer, S (Oklahoma Baptist), Ruthie Forson, S (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Madison Hatt, S (Henderson State), Julia Kabala, S (East Central), Hennesys Lalane, S (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Olivia Wiedower, S (Harding)