PACWEST VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
IRVINE, Calif. -- All three Hawai`i teams are traveling to southern California for a four-match stretch, and Chaminade and Hawai`i Hilo will put their undefeated conference records to the test this week. There will be a total of 12 matches next week featuring two of the top seven teams in the conference facing each other.
Chaminade is 9-0 on the season, which is the Silverswords’ best start in program history. Their trip will begin with a Monday match at Biola. On Thursday, the two PacWest teams that are receiving votes in the AVCA National Coaches Poll will face each other as Azusa Pacific hosts Chaminade.
Hawai`i Hilo will play at Concordia on Wednesday and will conclude its trip by facing Point Loma on Saturday. The four southern California schools that Chaminade, Hawai`i Hilo and Hawai`i Pacific will face have a combined conference record of 13-3 so far this season.
Last week, Biola and Point Loma faced each other in a battle of undefeated teams in conference play and Point Loma won three narrow sets at home to earn the 3-0 victory. Then on Saturday, Azusa Pacific remained undefeated in conference play by beating Point Loma in three sets.
With the win over Point Loma, Azusa Pacific received votes in the most recent national poll. All four of the Cougars losses so far this year have been against nationally-ranked teams. Hawai`i Hilo swept Notre Dame de Namur to stay undefeated on Monday.
Weekly Awards Based on Week of Sept. 10-16
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sierra Bauder, Biola
MB, Sr., 6-0 -- Phoenix, Ariz.
Bauder helped Biola go 2-1 on the week with road wins over Academy of Art and Holy Names. The senior registered 32 kills in nine sets for a .588 hitting percentage for the Eagles. Bauder also had four digs and six blocks, including three blocks in the win over Academy of Art. Against Holy Names, Bauder recorded a .682 hitting percentage with 15 kills and no errors on 22 attacks. It was the second most kills in a single match this year for Bauder, who now has a .452 hitting percentage, which is the best in the PacWest.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Cassidy Simon, Holy Names
DS, Fr., 5-4 -- Vacaville, Calif.
Simon led the league in digs last week with 55 as Holy Names picked up its second win of the season with a 3-set triumph against Academy of Art. Simon had 23 digs in the Hawks’ five-set loss to Concordia, which was her second-highest total on the season. Against Biola, which is one of the best serving teams in the conference, Simon had no receiving errors. The freshman now has a total of 167 digs on the season in 35 sets played.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Rachael Schlect, Point Loma
OH, Fr., 5-11 -- Spokane, Wash.
Schlect earned her second PacWest Freshman of the Week honor after she helped Point Loma sweep then-undefeated in PacWest play Biola. In the win over Biola, Schlect had 16 kills in three sets for a .438 hitting percentage to go along with her three aces. The freshman added another nine kills against Azusa Pacific and had 10 digs on the week. She now has a .211 hitting percentage on the season with 130 kills.