Geneva's Wicinski (Surprise!) Lands All-MAC Volleyball Player of the Week Honors

Just as she did , Northern Illinois volleyball outside hitter Lauren Wicinski garnered the first Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honor of the year, the league announced Tuesday.  The sophomore’s sixth selection of her career extends her NIU school career record total.

The reigning MAC Player and Freshman of the Year earned an all-tournament selection at the NIU Invitational as she compiled MAC-best 5.43 kills per set with a .312 hitting percentage and five aces. In NIU’s season opening win over IUPUI, she hit .383 with 23 kills and three aces, adding 11 digs and three blocks.

In a 3-0 win over Cincinnati, who received votes in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll, she hit a career-best .550 with 25 kills, 10 digs, two blocks and an ace. In a 3-1 loss to No. 18 Iowa State, she posted 15 kills, 13 digs and two blocks. In a 3-0 loss to No.14 Northern Iowa, she tallied 13 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and an ace, giving her four straight double-doubles to start the season.

“Lauren played pretty well against some very good competition last weekend,” said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. “It’s a nice honor for her to earn after facing three NCAA Tournament teams from last year.

"While it’s a nice individual honor for Northern Illinois volleyball, we would have liked to have had the tournament championship plaque in our hands. Lauren’s play was a result of the entire team’s solid play as we now know what we are up against if we want to be considered one of the best teams in the country.”

This article is courtesy of NIU.