Eytchison, Groth Named Volleyball Players of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola senior Anna Eytchison has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Green Bay senior Brittany Groth has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Aug. 24-26.

Eytchison, an outside hitter from Columbia, Ill., collected 59 kills (4.92 kills per set) and 25 digs for the Ramblers last week.  The senior playing in her first season with the Loyola, after playing three years at Dayton, had a career-high 21 kills in Loyola’s opening win over Manhattan. She followed that performance with 17 kills in the Ramblers win over Niagara. She finished the weekend with a .292 hitting percentage as Loyola won all four of its matches at the La Salle Invitational in three sets.

Groth, a libero from Oak Creek, Wis., recorded 72 digs in 9 sets (8.0 digs per set) for the Phoenix last week.  She started her senior season with 24 digs in Green Bay’s sweep of Drake on Friday. On Saturday, she had 19 digs against Central Michigan in GB’s loss and then finished with a school-record 29 digs in the Phoenix’s tough three-set loss to Auburn. Her school-record 29 digs in a three-set match broke the old record of 26 she set in 2010.

Other Top Performers for the Week:
Kara Koch, Cleveland State (Sr., OH) - Koch was named MVP of the IPFW Invitational after leading the Vikings to a 3-0 record. She had 50 kills and 30 digs in the tournament, recording a team-high 21 kills in CSU’s four-set win over Murray State. She had a double-double (11 kills, 15 digs) against IPFW.

Rachel Neuberger, Milwaukee  (Jr., MB) - Neuberger was a member of the All-Tournament team at the Duke Invitational after hitting a stellar .449 in the tournament, finishing with 40 kills, as UWM went 2-1.

Aubrey Sniegowski, UIC (Sr., OH) - Sniegowski had 36 kills and a hitting percentage of .377 last weekend in helping the Flames go 2-1 at the Colgate Classic. She also had nine blocks in UIC’s three matches.

Morgan Beil, Valparaiso (So., MH/RS) - Beil led the team in kills and ranked second in hitting percentage in the opening weekend. She had 40 kills at the Hawkeye Challenge, posting double-digit kills in three of Valpo’s four matches.

Missy Hundelt, Youngstown State(Jr., RS) - Hundelt had 41 kills and 32 digs last weekend in being named to the Spartan Showcase All-Tournament team. She had two double-doubles on the weekend (14 kills/10 digs vs. Michigan State and 17 kills/13 digs against McNeese State)

Carmen Leitermann, Green Bay (Sr., MB) - Leitermann had 31 kills and a .475 hitting percentage last weekend, while also contributing 10 blocks and four digs as she was named to the Green Bay/Country Inn & Suites All-Tournament team.

Dayna Roberts, Cleveland State (Fr., DS/S) - Roberts had 46 digs, posting double-digit totals in all three of CSU’s matches. She had a team-high 16 digs against both Kent State and IPFW.

Stephanie Kinane, Loyola(Fr., L) - Kinane averaged 4.33 digs per set (52 total digs) and added five aces as the Ramblers went 4-0 at the La Salle Invitational.

Taylor Root, Valparaiso (Sr., L) - Root registered at least 18 digs in all four Valpo matches, finishing with 83 for the tournament. She was named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament team. It was the 10th All-Tournament team honor of her career.

Jenna Cavanaugh, Youngstown State(Jr., MB) - Cavanaugh averaged 1.71 blocks per set last weekend for the Penguins. She had 10 blocks - one solo and nine assisted - against McNeese State becoming the first YSU player in four years to record at least 10 blocks in a match.