Volleyball sweeps second consecutive weekly MAC awards
For the second–straight week, the women's volleyball team swept the weekly Mid-American Conference awards.
Junior setter Kelly Maxwell and freshman middle blocker Angelique White earned MAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week after leading Central Michigan in its sweeps against rival Eastern Michigan Thursday and Kent State Saturday.
"I think we're playing pretty good ball," head coach Erik Olson said. "We know that we've played some of the tougher teams in the MAC thus far, so we like to see what we're doing numbers–wise."
Maxwell recorded 14.33 assists per set this weekend after recording 47 assists against the Eagles and 39 against the Golden Flashes. She improved her average to 11.66 assists per set this season, making her No. 15 in the nation.
She guided the offense to a .298 hitting percentage this weekend, improving the team’s mark to a MAC–leading .267 hitting percentage. Maxwell is leading the conference with 13.86 assists per set in MAC play.
"It felt awesome (to win the honor) and, obviously, assist numbers is something you can't do without your hitters," Maxwell said. "It's good to know we're running a good offense."
This is the first time Maxwell and White have received MAC honors.
White recorded six block assists against EMU before helping stifle the KSU offense to a .174 hitting percentage with three block assists and two solo blocks.
The freshman is No. 3 in the MAC with 1.5 blocks per set in MAC play.
"To be honest, it caught me off guard," White said. "It felt really good just because I didn't expect it."
The awards come one week after sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn McIntyre and junior libero Jenna Coates took home the honors after splitting the opening week of MAC play with a win against Western Michigan and a loss to Northern Illinois.
"We swept last weekend's awards, this weekend's (games) and then this weekend's awards, so I think it helps us going into this Ball State and Toledo weekend," Maxwell said. "It'll help us to focus on one thing at a time."
CMU heads to Muncie, Ind. to take on the Cardinals at 8 p.m. Friday.
