SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University women's volleyball players
Isabelle Kirkendall and
Keely Hinzman have been named Crossroads League Players of the Week following a pair of home victories for the Cougars.
Kirkendall was selected as the league's Attacker of the Week while Hinzman earned Defender of the Week honors.
The duo helped Spring Arbor, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, earn Crossroads League victories over No. 13 Taylor University and Marian University. The Cougars defeated Taylor in a five-set battle Wednesday before completing the week with a straight-set victory over Marian on Saturday.
Kirkendall averaged 3.8 kills and 2.1 digs per set while hitting .314 over the two matches. The senior highlighted her week with a double-double in the win over No. 13 Taylor, finishing with a season-high 17 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and one service ace.
She followed with another strong performance against Marian, recording 13 kills while hitting .323 and adding six digs and two aces in the sweep.
Hinzman was a force at the net throughout the week, averaging 1.9 blocks per set across the two victories. Against Taylor, she finished with a season-high 17 kills and eight total blocks while hitting .583 in the five-set win.
The senior followed with seven total blocks in the sweep of Marian, helping Spring Arbor limit the Knights to a .028 hitting percentage.
Kirkendall has been SAU's leading attacker this season, totaling a team-high 160 kills and averaging 3.02 kills per set through 15 matches. She has also contributed 131 digs, 17 service aces and 10 total blocks.
Hinzman has provided production on both sides of the net, ranking second on the team with 127 kills while hitting a team-best .319, which also ranks third in the conference. She leads Spring Arbor with 65 total blocks, including 12 solo blocks, and is averaging 1.23 blocks per set, tied for the best in the league.
Spring Arbor is 11-4 overall and 3-3 in Crossroads League play following its two victories last week. The Cougars return to action Wednesday, Sept. 23, traveling to No. 19 Mount Vernon Nazarene University for a 7 p.m. conference matchup.
