Player of the Week: Reese Booth, Northern Iowa
Defensive Player of the Week: Adeline Goedheer, Bradley
Libero of the Week: Jillian Shaneyfelt, Southern Illinois
Conference News & Notes
- Belmont and Northern Iowa swept the second week of Conference play, each moving to 4-0 in the standings. The Panthers have not dropped a set during that stretch, while the Bruins have lost just one.
- UNI holds the longest regular-season Conference win streak in the nation, winning 56-straight matches dating back to the 2022 season, when the Panthers lost in the regular-season finale. Over the last five years, the Panthers are an impressive 73-1 in league play during the regular season.
- Behind a pair of straight-set victories, Belmont remained undefeated in league play. The Bruins are 4-0 to begin Conference play for the first time since joining The Valley, and the first time since 2017. Belmont’s balanced offense was led by Lucy Kay, who tallied 22 kills on the weekend, committing just two errors.
- In the first issue of this season’s RPI, Northern Iowa checked in at No. 98 to lead the way for the MVC. The Panthers’ opponent strength of schedule came in at a league-high 33.
- After falling to UNI in straight sets, Bradley bounced back by pulling off the reverse sweep of Drake on Saturday. Gracie Furlong powered the Bradley offense with 22 kills on .246 hitting while adding 14 digs for her ninth double-double of the year. Maria Drapp returned to the lineup and recorded 52 assists and a season-high 20 digs in the win.
- Southern Illinois battled back from an 0-2 deficit to outlast Valparaiso, 3-2, on Friday night. The Salukis hit just .131 in the match, but had a trio of players finish with double-digit kills, including Ella Swansiger, who finished with a match-high 17.
- For the first time since the 2021 campaign, Drake competed in back-to-back five-set matches in league play this weekend, overcoming Illinois State before falling to Bradley, moving to 2-2 in MVC action this fall.
- Evansville, UIC, Indiana State and Valparaiso each earned their first Valley win of the season this weekend. UIC pulled off a reverse sweep of Southern Illinois, behind Gabi Peter’s career-high 23 kills, while Curry Kendall had a major impact for the Sycamores in their five-set win over Murray State, finishing with 19 kills, 12 digs, six aces and three blocks.
- Evansville and Valparaiso picked up four-set victories over the Racers and the Flames, respectively. The win over UIC marked the Beacons’ first home victory over the Flames since 2016, while Evansville had a pair of Aces finish with 14 kills in the balanced attack.
- The Panthers lead the nation, averaging 39.11 attacks per set, as the dynamic duo of Cassidy Hartman (11.94) and Lily Dykstra (11.79) rank inside the top 10 individually.
- Drake’s Jasmine Dulan became the first libero in the league to eclipse 300 digs this season, ranking sixth in Division I with 319 on the year. The fifth-year is averaging the third-most digs per set (5.41) in the nation as well.
- Bradley’s Maria Drapp has dished out a league-high 621 assists this year, while teammate Gracie Furlong leads The Valley with 240 kills. Both players rank inside the top 15 in the country in their respective categories.