November 2, 2009

Whittle among those named Mid-South Volleyball Players of the Week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- University of Rio Grande's Jacquie Whittle was named as one of the Mid-South Conference Volleyball Players of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

The weekly conference award is Whittle's first of the season and the second for Rio Grande. Freshman middle hitter Erin Sherman (South Webster, OH) was the MSC hitter of the week back on October 5. 

Whittle averaged 7.8 digs per game and a .886 reception percentage to earn MSC Libero of the Week. The Chillicothe, Ohio, junior and Unioto High School product recorded 30 digs in a three-game sweep of Pikeville and 17 digs in a 3-0 win over Mountain State (W.Va.) University.

Whittle added six aces to her week to help the RedStorm improve to 15-17 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

"Jacs has spent the better part of the season trying to change her defensive form," said Rio Grande head coach Billina Donaldson. "She has finally gotten her form back and really shined in the Pikeville game on Thursday with 30 digs."

"Jacs works hard and is very deserving of this recognition," Donaldson added. "I will be looking for more big nights out of her to finish up the year."

Rio Grande has secured the No. 3 seed in the Mid-South Conference, but first will head to New York this weekend to close out the 2009 regular season at Houghton.