PACWEST VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
 
IRVINE, Calif. -- In the same week that Azusa Pacific’s Julianne Miller became the PacWest’s all-time leader in hitting percentage, Sierra Bauder from Biola became the national leader, hitting .465 so far this season.
 
Last year, Miller set the PacWest’s singles season record for hitting percentage at .417, and last week she reached the attack minimum to become the PacWest’s all-time leader in hitting percentage. Her career mark of .394 crushes the previous record of .347 set by Erh Fang Hsu from BYU-Hawaii in 2014.
 
Now, Buader is on pace to break Miller’s single-season record as she leads the nation with a .465 hitting percentage that was boosted during Biola’s two wins last week in which the senior had 20 kills and no errors on 28 attacks.
 
Azusa Pacific and Biola will play each other for the first time this year on Wednesday in Chase Gymnasium. The two teams split last year with each team winning at home before finishing the season in a tie for second place.
 
Another crucial conference battle will take place on Saturday as Hawai`i Hilo hosts Chaminade in their first meeting of the season. The Silverswords are looking to return to the form that helped them go 6-0 during conference play, while the Vulcans enter the week with a four-match winning streak. Point Loma also has a pair of key matches this week, taking on Concordia on Friday before hosting Fresno Pacific on Saturday.
 
Weekly Awards for the weeks of Sept. 24-30
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sierra Bauder, Biola
MB, Sr., 6-0 -- Phoenix, Ariz.
Bauder had a very efficient week for the Eagles as she recorded 20 kills with no errors on 28 attacks in two victories to become the national leader in hitting percentage going into October. Bauder also tallied eight blocks in seven sets, including two solo blocks in the win at Fresno Pacific. Bauder had seven kills on nine attacks as Biola swept Concordia. Two days later, she registered 13 kills against Fresno Pacific as Biola has now won six of its last seven matches. This is the third-consecutive week in which Biola’s middle blocker has earned a weekly honor.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Julianne Miller, Azusa Pacific
MB, Jr., 6-1 -- Rocklin, Calif.
Miller helped Azusa Pacific extend its winning streak to nine matches, while leading the conference in blocking for the week. The Cougars were on the road for the first time since August and defeated Notre Dame de Namur and Dominican to extend their lead in the conference standings. Miller recorded 12 blocks in seven sets, including three solo blocks. She also had 20 kills on 39 attacks to crush the conference record for career hitting percentage.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jillian Wheaton, Academy of Art
MB, Fr., 6-0 -- Rancho Santa Margarita
Wheaton earned her second-consecutive freshman of the week honor after posting the conference’s third-best hitting percentage on the week. The middle blocker tallied 22 kills with no errors, two aces and three blocks in seven sets last week. The Urban Knights are still looking for their first win, but have won four sets in their last four matches. Wheaton now has a .343 hitting percentage on the season and has tallied 105 kills.