Green Bay's Kasal and Bauer Win Volleyball Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Green Bay sophomore Taylor Kasal has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while her teammate sophomore Jillian Bauer has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Oct. 28-Nov. 3.

It is the first Horizon League Player of the Week honor for both players and marks the first time Green Bay has ever swept Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week since the League started awarding both categories in the 2005 season.

Kasal, a sophomore outside hitter from Westmont, Ill., posted her first career-double-double with 21 kills and 16 digs as the Phoenix battled back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Valparaiso, 3-2, on Saturday. The 21 kills were a career-high for Kasal. In the crucial fourth set, Kasal scored the final five Phoenix points of the set to help Green Bay force the fifth and deciding frame.

The Crusaders were coming off a 3-1 win at first-place Milwaukee where Valpo handed the Panthers their first League loss, but the Green Bay win put UWM back in first place in the League standings and propelled the Phoenix to third place in the standings with a 7-4 conference mark.

Bauer, a sophomore libero from Verona, Wis., averaged 5.88 digs per set for Green Bay in its two wins last week. She had a match-high 32 digs in the Phoenix win over Valpo on Saturday. The 32 digs were the most by a Horizon League player this season.

For the season, Bauer leads the Horizon League in digs (466) and digs per set (4.96).

Green Bay (12-12, 7-4) looks to knock off another League-leader on Saturday as it hosts first-place Milwaukee (14-9, 10-1) on Saturday night.

Other Top Performers for the Week:
Morgan Beil, Valparaiso (Jr., MH) - Beil had 30 kills last week for the Panthers including 10 in Valpo’s win at Milwaukee and 12 kills against Green Bay on Saturday. She hit .385 (30-5-65) for the week.
Jenna Cavanaugh, Youngstown State (Sr., MB) - Cavanaugh had six blocks in both matches for the Penguins last week. She upped her season average to 1.49 per set. She had two solo blocks in both contests.
Melissa Deatsch, Oakland (Fr., OH) - Deatsch recorded a double-double in both contests for the Golden Grizzlies last week. She finished the week with 26 kills and 27 digs as Oakland recorded two road victories.
Nikki Holmes, Cleveland State (So., L) - Holmes averaged 6.17 digs per set last week, finishing with 37. She had match-highs in both contests, recording 19 against Wright State and 18 versus Oakland.
Taylor Humm, Oakland (Jr., OH) - Humm led the Golden Grizzlies with 32 digs last week, recording double-digit efforts in both contests. She averaged 4.57 digs per set.
Morganne Longoria, Valparaiso (Fr., L) - Longoria had 61 digs last week and averaged 5.08 per set. She had a career-high 30 digs in Valpo’s five-set loss to Green Bay on Saturday.
Rachel Neuberger, Milwaukee (Sr., MB) - Neuberger averaged 1.43 blocks per set in two matches last week. She had a part in all six of Milwaukee’s blocks in the Panthers sweep of UIC on Saturday.
Sara Sternard, UIC (Jr., MH) - Sternard had a team-high nine kills on 23 attempts versus Milwaukee. She finished the week with 14 kills.
Maggie Strus, UIC (Jr., DS) - Strus had a team-high 22 digs this past weekend, including a team-high 14 against Green Bay.
Kerry Winchester, Cleveland State (Sr., OH) - Winchester led the Viking offense in both matches. She averaged 2.67 kills per set, finishing the weekend with 16 kills.

Horizon League Offensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 26 - Sarah Dooms, Valparaiso
Sept. 2 - Leah Van Zeeland, Green Bay
Sept. 9 - Grace Kauth, Cleveland State
Sept. 16 - Maggie Hannon, Cleveland State
Sept. 23 - Missy Hundelt, Youngstown State
Sept. 30 - Cassie Pelloni, Oakland
Oct. 7 - Sara Sternard, UIC
Oct. 14 - Rachel Neuberger, Milwaukee
Oct. 21 - Kayla Price, Milwaukee
Oct. 28 - Taylor Kasal, Green Bay

Horizon League Defensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 26 - Katie Mroczenski, Green Bay
Sept. 2 - Kelsey Victor, Valparaiso      
Sept. 9 - Nikki Holmes, Cleveland State
Sept. 16 - Aly Ryan, Youngstown State
Sept. 23 - Rachel Neuberger, Milwaukee
Sept. 30 - Taylor Golabowski, Milwaukee
Oct. 7 - Erika West, Youngstown State
Oct. 14 - Ellen Vanden Berg, Valparaiso
Oct. 21 - Jenna Cavanaugh, Youngstown State    
Oct. 28 - Jillian Bauer, Green Bay