OVC VOLLEYBALL REPORT
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 16
Western Illinois at Kansas City, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 17
Alabama A&M at
Tennessee State, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 18
Tennessee Tech vs. Northern Iowa, 3:00 p.m. (Green Bay, Wis.)
Xavier at
Morehead State, 4:00 p.m.
Indiana State at
Tennessee State, 6:00 p.m.
Chicago State at
Western Illinois, 6:00 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Evansville, TBA
Friday, September 19
UT Martin vs. North Dakota, 9:00 a.m. (Macon, Ga.)
UT Martin vs. West Georgia, 3:00 p.m. (Macon, Ga.)
Southeast Missouri vs. Kansas City, 10:00 a.m. (St. Louis, Mo.)
Southeast Missouri vs. Missouri State, 4:00 p.m. (St. Louis, Mo.)
SIUE vs. Binghamton, 4:00 p.m. (East Lansing, Mich.)
Little Rock vs. New Mexico State, 4:00 p.m. (Tulsa, Okla.)
Idaho at
Tennessee State, 6:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois vs. Iowa State, 6:00 p.m. (Champaign, Ill.)
Tennessee Tech at Green Bay, 6:00 p.m.
Valparaiso at
Western Illinois, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 20
Tennessee Tech vs. Western Michigan, 11:00 a.m.
UT Martin at Mercer, 12:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at Illinois, 1:00 p.m.
Morehead State at Xavier, 2:00 p.m.
Lindenwood vs. East Texas A&M, 2:00 p.m. (Coralville, Iowa)
Chattanooga at
Tennessee State, 3:00 p.m.
Southeast Missouri at Saint Louis, 3:00 p.m.
Evansville at
Southern Indiana, 4:00 p.m.
Missouri at
Western Illinois, 4:00 p.m.
Little Rock vs. Oral Roberts, 4:00 p.m. (Tulsa, Okla.)
Little Rock at Tulsa, 7:00 p.m.
SIUE at Michigan State, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 21
Lindenwood at Iowa, 2:00 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
M.E. Hargan, OH, Sr., 6-1, Elizabethtown, Ky. - Morehead State
Hargan started the weekend with 22 kills, tying her mark for the most kills in the OVC this season. The senior hit .395 while scoring an OVC-high 25.5 points against OVC foe Western Illinois in a non-conference match. She capped off the weekend with 18 kills and 21 points, both OVC season highs, in the Eagles’ 3-0 win over host Evansville.
Others Nominated: Destiny Walker, Eastern Illinois; Kyndia Smith, SIUE; Ashby Willis, Southern Indiana; Bella Powell, Tennessee Tech; Keyana Cruse, Western Illinois.
DEFENSIVE
Ariadna Pereles, L/DS, So., 5-5, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – Eastern Illinois
Pereles led EIU in digs throughout the weekend. The sophomore was named to the Refreshment Services Pepsi Sycamores Volleyball All-Tournament team.
Others Nominated: Bailey Brashear, Morehead State; Vienna Elliott, SIUE; Audrey Small, Southern Indiana; MK Roberts, Tennessee Tech; Abby Freund, UT Martin; Elizabeth Ziegler, Western Illinois.
CO-SETTER
Aysa Thomas, S, Fr., 5-9, Brownsburg, Ind. – Southern Indiana
Thomas tallied 114 assists over three games, with 37 digs. The freshman earned her first career double-double with 28 assists and 12 digs against Duquesne. She set a new career-high with 47 assists in the win over Miami (Ohio) while adding 10 digs and three kills. Thomas led the offense to a .184 hitting percentage.
Ava Peters, S, Fr., 6-0, River Falls, Wis. – UT Martin
Peters distributed a career-best 52 assists and collected 10 digs plus two service aces for her first career double-double guiding the Skyhawks to a victory against Lamar. The assist total was the most for any UT Martin player since March 29, 2021. The freshman also handed out 46 assists with six kills and five digs in four sets in Friday’s event opener against Chattanooga and registered 19 assists at Memphis in Saturday’s tournament finale.
Others Nominated: Catalina Rochaix, Eastern Illinois; Sydney Sennett, Morehead State; Paige Bernstein, SIUE; Jordan Karlen, Tennessee Tech; Madelyn Norton, Western Illinois.
FRESHMAN
Abby Freund, L/DS, R-Fr., 5-5, St. Peters, Mo. – UT Martin
Freund recorded 72 digs in three matches. The freshman highlighted the week in a victory over Lamar, scooping up 32 digs, including 11 in the shortened fifth set. She was responsible for 24 digs in just four sets against Chattanooga while pitching in 16 digs at Memphis in the tournament finale. Freund additionally provided 11 assists on the week, six coming in the triumph over Lamar.
Others Nominated: Kennedy Pike, SIUE; Aysa Thomas, Southern Indiana; Jordyn Milhouse, Tennessee Tech; Audrey Pender, Western Illinois.