Volleyball

MVC Volleyball Weekly Notebook (Sept. 22)

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference announced its volleyball weekly award winners on Monday. UIC's Julieta Sandez has been tabbed the MVC Player of the Week while UNI's Jadyn Petersen has been named the league's Defensive Player of the Week. Indiana State's Ava Robart is the MVC Freshman of the Week. 

Conference News & Notes
  • Missouri Valley Conference volleyball programs wrapped up non-conference action over the weekend. As a league, The Valley finished .500 with an overall record of 63-63.
  • During the non-conference slate, MVC programs earned seven volleyball tournament titles outright.
  • Belmont’s 9-2 ledger marks the best start to a season for the Bruins since 2006. The Bruins went 24-7 that year with a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
  • Valparaiso is off to its best start since the 2022 campaign. It marks the third time in five seasons that the Beacons have earned nine victories in non-conference play.
  • With MVC play starting Thursday, UNI will be on the hunt for its fourth-straight regular-season title in 2025. Over the last three years, the Panthers have compiled a 53-1 record in Valley play.
  • Indiana State’s Kira Holland is averaging the seventh-most attacks per set (12.11) in Division I with the eighth-most total attacks (545). Her league-leading 180 total kills falls just outside the Top 25 nationally.
  • UIC’s Julieta Sandez leads the nation in hitting percentage (.531) while Southern Illinois’ Larissa Seger joins Sandez inside the Top 25, hitting at a .429 clip.
  • Three players have recorded at least 200 digs this year, with Evansville’s Ainoah Cruz (264) and Valpo’s Emma Hickey (245) leading the way nationally, both ranking inside the top 10.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julieta Sandez, UIC, Sr., Middle Blocker - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Chicago State)
UIC’s Julieta Sandez led The Valley in hitting percentage (.634) and blocks per set (1.33) as the Flames went undefeated in the Chicago Cup. The tournament MVP, Sandez finished the weekend with 27 kills, averaging 3.00 per set, while leading UIC with 12 total blocks. Sandez recorded double-figure kills in both matches, tallying just one error total. For the season, Sandez currently ranks first in Division I in hitting percentage (.531).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jadyn Petersen, Northern Iowa, R-Fr., Defensive Specialist/Libero - Dike, Iowa (Dike-New Hartford HS)
UNI’s Jadyn Petersen helped the Panthers close non-conference play with a three-match sweep of the Capital Credit Union Classic. Petersen led the UNI backline with a team-high 5.11 digs per set while posting a .933 reception percentage, including a perfect 1.000 reception percentage against Tennessee Tech and Western Michigan. With the help of Petersen’s defensive efforts, the Panthers held the Golden Eagles (.000) and Broncos (.063) to below .100 hitting and Green Bay (.183) below .200.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Ava Robart, Indiana State, Fr., Outside Hitter - Potosi, Mo. (Potosi HS)
Indiana State’s Ava Robart helped lead the Sycamores to a perfect 3-0 weekend at the Tiger Invitational in Nashville. The rookie finished with a league- and team-leading 51 kills, averaging 4.25 per set, while hitting at a .327 clip. Robart recorded 30 total digs across three matches, averaging 2.50 per frame, while adding four aces and five blocks. She set a career high against Chattanooga with her first-career double-double (19 kills, 15 digs).