INDIANAPOLIS -- UIC freshman Sara Sternard has been named Horizon League Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Green Bay junior Brittany Groth has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the period of Sept. 19 - Sept. 25.
Sternard, a middle blocker from Clarendon Hills, Ill., had an attack percentage of .500 with 24 kills in three UIC victories last week. Sternard was at her best in UIC’s two conference victories over the weekend. She had 20 kills in 33 attacks with only one error for a hitting percentage of .576 in the Flames’ victories over Loyola and Green Bay. Through two weeks of conference play, Sternard leads the league with a hitting percentage of .500 (25 kills, 1 error, 48 total attempts).
Sternard and her teammates host Butler on Friday and Wright State on Saturday as they try to improve on their 2-1 conference record.
Groth, a libero from Oak Creek Wis., had 54 digs (6.8 per set) in helping the Phoenix split their matches last weekend. Groth had 17 digs in Green Bay’s sweep of Valparaiso on Friday. The next day, Groth had a career-high 37 digs as the Phoenix fell in five sets to UIC. The 37 digs are the third-most in school history and the most by a Horizon League player this season. Groth is leading the conference with an average of 6.92 digs per set in conference play.
Green Bay plays two matches in Chicago this week. The Phoenix face Chicago State on Tuesday and return to conference play on Friday when they play at Loyola.
Other Top Performers for the Week:
Mary Kate Imrie, UIC(So., S) - Imrie had two double-doubles last week in conference play. She had 50 assists and 20 digs against Loyola and 57 assists and 13 digs against Green Bay.
Kara Koch, Cleveland State (Jr., OH) - Koch had 18 kills and 12 digs in the Vikings’ win over Youngstown State last week. It was the third double-double of the season for Koch.
Kayla Price, Milwaukee (Fr., S) - Price had 74 assists and 10 digs in helping the Panthers to a pair of league victories last week. She averaged 12.33 assists per set in wins over Butler and Wright State.
Leah Van Zeeland, Green Bay (So., OH) - Van Zeeland had 31 kills last week, including a career-high 19 kills against UIC.
