Oakland's Pelloni, Milwaukee's Golabowski Win Volleyball Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Oakland sophomore Cassie Pelloni has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Milwaukee junior Taylor Golabowski has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Sept. 30-Oct. 6.

Pelloni, a sophomore from Bellevue, Mich., recorded a team-high 37 kills for the Golden Grizzlies last weekend in their two matches. She opened the weekend with a team-best 12 kills as Oakland defeated Youngstown State, 3-1. The win marked Oakland’s first conference victory in the Horizon League. On Saturday, the outside hitter had a match-best 25 kills - while hitting .310 - as Oakland’s comeback fell short in falling to Cleveland State, 3-2. The 25 kills were a career-high for Pelloni and were also the most kills in a match by a Horizon League player this season.

Oakland (7-11, 1-3) returns to the court on Friday when it travels to Dayton, Ohio, to take on Wright State (6-15, 0-4).

Golabowski, a junior from Menomonee Falls, Wis., averaged 5.83 digs per set for the Panthers as UWM recorded two big road wins. She tied for team-high honors with 11 digs on Friday as Milwaukee swept UIC, 3-0. The libero was part of a defensive that held UIC’s offense to a .103 attack percentage. On Saturday, Golabowski had a match-high 24 digs as the Panthers swept Horizon League preseason favorite Valparaiso, 3-0. The Panthers limited Valpo to just a .044 attack percent in the win. Golabowski’s 8.0 digs per set average tied for the fifth-most in a three-match set in school history.

After two weeks of League play, Milwaukee (8-8, 4-0) is the lone undefeated team in conference play. The Panthers return to action on Friday when it hosts Green Bay (8-8, 3-1).

Other Top Performers for the Week:
Monica Anderson, Green Bay (Sr., OH) - Anderson had a team-high 10 kills in Green Bay’s sweep of UIC. She tied her career-high with 22 kills (hitting .340) in GB’s five-set loss at Valparaiso.
Amanda Baker, Oakland (So., MH) - Baker had 18 kills and six blocks for the Golden Grizzlies last week. 
Jillian Bauer, Green Bay (So., L) - Bauer averaged 4.62 digs per set this past weekend. She had a match-high 24 digs and added seven assists versus Valparaiso.
Morgan Beil, Valparaiso (Jr., MH) - Beil had 17 kills, one shy of her career-high, and hit .364 in the Crusaders’ five-set win over Green Bay on Friday.
Emily Campbell, Valparaiso (Fr., OH) - Campbell had a double-double versus Green Bay with 11 digs and 11 kills, while also adding three blocks. She had a team-high 12 digs and three blocks versus Milwaukee.
Jenna Cavanaugh, Youngstown State (Sr., MB) - Cavanaugh finished the week with 15 blocks, including three solo, as YSU went 2-1. She had five blocks in the win over Kent State and seven versus Oakland.
Justine Garcia, UIC (Sr., DS) - Garcia had a match-high 14 digs and two aces against Milwaukee. She had 12 digs against Green Bay - her eighth consecutive double-digit dig performance - while also reaching the 900-career dig milestone in the match.
Nikki Holmes, Cleveland State (So., DS) - Holmes had a team-high 18 digs at Wright State and posted a team-high 27 digs at Oakland. It was her fifth 20-dig match of the season.
Kelly Kiger, Cleveland State (So., MH) - Kiger posted a career-high 15 kills at Wright State to lead the CSU offense. She posted 10 kills at Oakland for her first career back-to-back double-dig kill matches of her career. She hit .408 for the week.
Myanna Ruiz, Milwaukee (Fr., OH) - Ruiz averaged 3.67 kills/set as UWM went 2-0 on the road. She reached double figures in kills and digs in both matches, finishing the week with 22 kills and 25 digs.
Sara Sternard, UIC (Jr., MH) - Sternard had 20 kills for the Flames last week. She had eight kills and two blocks against Milwaukee before recording a match-high 12 kills against Green Bay.
Shannon Watson, Youngstown State (Jr., OH) - Watson averaged 3.55 kills per set on an efficient .358 attack percent as the Penguins won two of their three matches last week. She had 12 kills in YSU’s wins over Kent State and Wright State and 15 kills in the Penguins loss at Oakland.

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

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