Volleyball

MVC Volleyball Weekly Notebook (Sept. 29)

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference announced its volleyball weekly honors on Monday. Valparaiso's Jessica Pickett and Emma Hickey have been named the MVC Player and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively. For the second-straight week, Indiana State's Ava Robart has been tabbed the league's Freshman of the Week. 

Conference News & Notes
  • Bradley, UNI and Southern Illinois each went 2-0 during the opening weekend of MVC play. Each program dropped just two sets en route to the perfect weekend.
  • The Panthers have won 38 straight matches in MVC regular season play dating back to the start of the 2023 Conference schedule, including 44 straight over league challengers in both the regular season and postseason. UNI’s last loss to a Valley opponent came in the 2022 regular season finale at Drake.
  • The Salukis wrap up non-conference play for the league on Wednesday at Memphis. Valley programs are .500 (63-63) in non-con action this season.
  • Drake’s Macy Daufeldt eclipsed 1,000 career kills and is now one of four active player in The Vallley to have at least 1,000 for their career.
  • Indiana State’s Emily Weber surpassed 2,500 career assists, including more than 1,000 in a Sycamore uniform. 
  • UIC’s Julieta Sandez continues to lead Division I in hitting percentage (.514), while Valparaiso’s Emma Hickey (295) and Evansville’s Ainoah Cruz (289) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in total digs.
  • Bradley’s Maria Drapp is the first setter in the league to reach 500 assists on the year, ranking 21st nationally in the category. 
  • As a team, Valparaiso leads The Valley and ranks in the top 10 nationally in assists (717), digs (964) and kills (779) while ranking 12th in total team blocks (136.0).
19911

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jessica Pickett, Valparaiso, So., Middle Blocker - Carmel, Ind. (Carmel HS)
Valparaiso’s Jessica Pickett had a balanced weekend as the Beacons went 1-1 against UNI and Drake. The sophomore matched a career high with 12 kills against the Panthers after coming up with 11 the night before in a win over the Bulldogs. She added six blocks in each match, marking the third and fourth times this season she has posted at least six stuffs in a match. She hit .391 on the weekend, averaging 3.69 points and 1.50 blocks per frame.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma Hickey, Valparaiso, Sr., Libero - Granger, Ind. (Penn HS)
Valparaiso’s Emma Hickey led all players with 27 digs in a win over Drake, helping limit the Bulldogs to .087 hitting for the match. In their second outing of the weekend against UNI, Hickey then tied for match-high honors with 23 digs, helping hold the Panthers to .101 hitting, which their lowest mark against an MVC opponent since March 2021. Hickey also finished the weekend committing just one serve reception error on 45 attempts over the two matches.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Ava Robart, Indiana State, Fr., Outside Hitter - Potosi, Mo. (Potosi HS)
For the second-straight week, Indiana State’s Ava Robart has been tabbed the MVC Freshman of the Week. The rookie averaged 3.71 kills, 2.00 digs and 4.29 points per set as the Sycamores went 1-1 in Valley play. Robart opened the weekend with a match-high 16 kills against Illinois State while chipping in five digs and three blocks. The next night, Robart used a 10-kill, 9-dig outing against Belmont to help the Trees beat the Bruins, adding a pair of assists and two service aces.