ST LOUIS – Illinois State seniors Kaitlyn Early and Emily Orrick were recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference, as the league announced its weekly awards Monday. Early was named the league's Player of the Week, while Orrick was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Week.
Early and Orrick led the Redbirds to victories at Northern Iowa and Drake over the weekend. The wins helped Illinois State extend its winning streak to 18 matches, and Saturday's win over Northern Iowa sealed the Redbirds' first MVC regular-season title since 1997.
Early, a setter from Wildwood, Missouri, earned Player of the Week honors for the second week in a row, and for the third time this season. The senior dished out 91 assists, at a rate of 13 per set, over the two-match stretch. She also chipped in 10 kills, 17 digs, three blocks and one service ace over the two matches.
Orrick, a libero from Mackinaw, Illinois, earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season. Orrick turned in one of her best weekends of the season, as she tallied 51 digs over the two matches. She recorded at least five digs in each of Illinois State's seven sets, and boosted her digs-per-set average to an MVC-leading 5.61. She also added eight assists and an ace over the weekend.
The Redbirds are back in action this weekend as they host their final two matches of the regular-season at Redbird Arena. Illinois State will welcome Missouri State Friday and Wichita State Saturday. Both matches start at 7 p.m.
Both matches, and all Illinois State matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
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