Rochester, MN-

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its weekly volleyball awards for the week of October 3 -9.

Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range athletes swept this week's MCAC North awards.  Kaelynn Kudis, middle blocker, put together an incredible week for the Norse to earn the the MCAC North Division Offensive Athlete-of-the-Week. Kudis had 74 kills in 12 sets, hitting .434 on the week and averaging 6.17 kills per set, and served 3 aces as well.  She also averaged 1.42 blocks per set and 2.3 digs per set to help her team pick up three more wins.  Teammate, Abbigail Shuster, earns the MCAC North Division Defensive Athlete-of-the-Week award. The libero dug 56 balls to average 4.67 digs per set and had four service aces in her 12 sets.   

In the South Division, Century College's Emma Crandell had 58 kills and hit .322 on the week, averaging 3.87 kills per set. The outside hitter also had 12 service aces in her 15 sets played and picked up 63 digs and 4 blocks to earn the South Division Offensive Athlete-of-the-Week award. After an injury slowed her down at the outset of the season, St. Cloud Technical and Community College libero, Allison Fritz, has caught fire in the backrow.  Fritz had 71 digs in her 10 sets and now ranks second in the MCAC in digs this season.  She earns the South Division Defensive Athlete of the Week honor with her 7.1 dig per set average this week.

As MCAC teams compile games and statistics, keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:

MCAC Statistical Leaders:  https://mcacsports.org/sports/wvball/2022-23/leaders

MCAC Standings: https://mcacsports.org/sports/wvball/2022-23/standings

	MCAC Volleyball North Division Athletes of the Week
Kaelynn Kudis Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range SO / Middle Blocker Cherry, MN	Offensive Athlete of the Week Sets Played:  12 Kills:  74 Hitting Errors:  12 Total Hitting Attempts:  143 Assists:  3 Service Aces:  3 Noteworthy Information:  Kaelynn had 6.17 kills per set and hit .434 on the week.  She also averaged 2.3 digs per set and 1.42 blocks per set in her team's three wins. Next Contest: October 12 at Minnesota North - Rainy River Team Record: 14-7 overall, 10-3 in the MCAC
Abbigail Shuster Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range FR / Libero Cook, MN	Defensive Athlete of the Week Sets Played:  12 Digs:  56 Service Aces:  4 Solo Blocks:  0 Assisted Blocks:  0 Noteworthy Information:  Abbigail averaged 4.67 digs per set in the team's three wins last week.  In the win over #3 Central Lakes, Shuster collected 33 digs and 3 service aces. Next Contest:  October 12 vs. Minnesota North - Rainy River Team Record: 14-7 overall, 10-3 in the MCAC

	MCAC Volleyball South Division Athletes of the Week
Emma Crandell Century College SO / Outside Hitter Forest Lake, MN	Offensive Athlete of the Week Sets Played:  15 Kills:  58 Hitting Errors:  19 Total Hitting Attempts:  121 Assists:  4 Service Aces:  12 Digs: 63 Blocks: 4 Noteworthy Information: Emma hit .322 for the week averaging 3.87 kills per set.  In a win over #3 Central Lakes, Crandell hit .520.  She also picked up 63 digs through the week, averaging 4.2 digs per set. Next Contest: October 11 vs. Dakota County Technical College Team Record: 16-4 overall, 10-1 in the MCAC
Allison Fritz St. Cloud Technical & Community College SO / Libero Norwood Young America, MN	Defensive Athlete of the Week Sets Played:  10 Digs:  71 Service Aces:  0 Noteworthy Information: Allison averaged 7.1 digs per set and is currently ranked 2nd in the MCAC in digs per set. Next Contest:  October 12 vs. Anoka-Ramsey Community College Team Record:  10-11 overall, 4-6 in the MCAC

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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.