INDIANAPOLIS -- UIC senior Janise Dismuke has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Loyola freshman Stephanie Kinane has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Sept. 31-Oct. 7.
Dismuke, from Peoria, Ill., was quite efficient on attack for the Flames last week in helping UIC go 3-0. For the week, Dismuke hit .521 (44-7-71) as she averaged 4.00 kills per set. She started the week by hitting .812 (13-0-16) as the Flames dispatched Eastern Illinois, 3-0. Dismuke’s hitting percentage is the best by a Horizon League player this season. On Friday, Dismuke had a match-high 13 kills as she hit .400 (13-3-25) in UIC’s 3-0 win over Green Bay. The senior middle hitter completed her week by hitting .467 (18-4-30) in the Flames come-from-behind 3-2 win over Milwaukee.
Dismuke continues to be one of the most efficient attacker in the Horizon League this season. She has the two highest hitting percentages in the conference this season and for the season ranks second in the conference with a .327 hitting percentage.
Kinane, a native of Batavia, Ill., had 58 digs in two matches last week for the Ramblers as they pulled out two five-set matches. On Friday, Kinane had a match-high 25 digs as Loyola overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Milwaukee, 3-2. On Saturday, the freshman came through again as the Ramblers fell into a 2-0 hole to Green Bay before winning the final three sets to capture the match. Kinane had a career-high 33 digs in the contest.
Loyola (13-6, 5-1) hosts UIC (11-10, 4-2) in Gentile Arena on Friday in both teams lone match of the week.
Other Top Performers for the Week:
Alexis Egler, Youngstown State (So., OH) - Egler registered a team-high 23 kills in YSU’s two matches last week. She posted a season-high 16 kills and hit .286 against Valparaiso and had seven kills and 14 digs against Wright State.
Ellen Vanden Berg, Valparaiso(Jr., MH) - Vanden Berg had a career-high 19 kills in the Crusaders 3-1 win over Youngstown State. She had 13 kills on a .357 attack percent against Cleveland State. She also led Valpo in blocks in both matches last week.
Kara Koch, Cleveland State (Sr., OH) - Koch recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 23 kills and 20 digs in CSU’s 3-2 win over Valpo. She recorded 15 kills in straight-set win over Wright State, her 13th match of the season with 15 or more kills.
Brittany Brown, Loyola (Fr., S) - Brown averaged 10.8 assists per set for the Ramblers last week. She racked up seven kills (7-0-9) at a .778 hitting percentage and had 56 assists in Loyola’s 3-2 win over Milwaukee. She followed that performance up with 22 kills and 10 digs in win over Green Bay.
Maggie Strus, UIC (So., DS) - Strus had 53 digs last week for the Flames as they went undefeated. She had a match-high 28 digs in the Flames come-from-
Jenna Cavanaugh, Youngstown State (Jr., MB) - Cavanaugh had two solo blocks and five block assists in the Penguins sweep of Wright State. She had seven block assists in YSU’s match against Green Bay.
Amanda Medvetz, Cleveland State (Sr., L) - Medvetz had 28 digs in CSU’s 3-2 win over Valparaiso. It was her fourth 20+-dig match of the season. She had 14 digs in the Vikings straight-set win over Wright State on Saturday. Medvetz has posted double-digit digs in all but two matches this season.
