Rochester, Mn--
The volleyball season in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference continues to climb towards the post-season, as both Divisional leaders maintain perfect marks in the Northern and Southern ranks while several schools enjoyed strong showings over the past week in MCAC action. A handful of volleyball student-athletes rose above the rest with stellar individual performances over the past several days and have earned Player-of-the-Week honors in their respective roles for their efforts.
MCAC North, Hitter of the Week:
Chloe Kaufenberg, a volleyball student-athlete at Mesabi Range College in Virginia, Minnesota, has earned Week 5 Hitter-of-the-Week honors in the Northern Division. Kaufenberg, a sophomore, averaged 2.1 kills per set and garnered a .313 attacking percentage, including 10 kills against Itasca Community College. The Babbitt, Minnesota, native and her Mesabi Range squad is sitting at 3-4 in Divisional play with an important match against Rainy River Community College on Wednesday, September 27th and a non-conference tilt against Gogebic Community College on Friday, September 29th.
MCAC North, Setter of the Week:
Northland Community & Technical College athlete Hannah Diestsch has been an important part of the Pioneers strong showing in September. As a freshman in the Conference, the Goodridge native racked up 27 assists against Fond du Lac and 18 more against Rainy River Community College. In action against Hibbing Community College, Diestsch tallied 21 assists, 2 kills and 3 service aces. Northland went 3-0 in MCAC North play and is on a 4 match winning streak. Diestsch and her NCTC teammates, will take their 6-1 MCAC North mark into a mid-week match against Itasca for a key contest at 6:30pm this Wednesday, September 27th.
MCAC North, Defensive Player of the Week:
Tatianna Zimmerman picks up the Week 5 Defensive Player-of-the-Week in the Northern Division, helping lead the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Thunder to a 1-2 week, beating Vermilion for their first MCAC North win of 2017. Zimmerman, from Culver, Minnesota, is a sophomore outside hitter for head coach Laura Sylvester and totaled 30 digs over the course of Thunder action last week. FDL will look to keep their MCAC North momentum when they travel to Central Lakes on Wednesday, September 27th for a 6:30pm match.
MCAC North, All-Around Player-of-the-Week:
Itasca Community College right sided hitter and setter Kara Mandich takes home All-Around Player-of-the-Week honors for Week 5 in the Northern Division. Mandich, from Bovey, Minnesota, produced 29 kills, 30 digs and 2 service aces over the past week for the Vikings. Itasca claimed wins against Mesabi Range and Vermilion over the past week to begin a two-match winning streak. Mandich and her ICC teammates will take on Northland CTC in a showdown of upward-trending teams on Wednesday, September 27th at home in Grand Rapids.
Cover photo courtsey of Mesabi Range College athletics.
For full MCAC Volleyball Stats, Standings and more, visit: http://www.mcacsports.org/sports/wvball/index
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.