Two Bulldogs Earn NSIC Honors

PRESS RELEASE - NSIC VOLLEYBALL

NSIC Conference Players of the Week

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week

#4 Alyssa Nelson (MB, 5-11, Jr., Hayfield, Minn. / Hayfield HS) Minnesota Duluth

Alyssa Nelson opened the conference season with a bang, averaging 4.17 kills per set in UMD’s first two home matches of 2009. Nelson registered 13 kills in Friday night’s win over the University of Minnesota, Crookston before adding another 12 in Saturday’s triumph over Minnesota State University Moorhead. In addition to her impressive kill totals, Nelson was incredibly efficient, as she committed just two errors and hit .590 for the weekend to help lead UMD, which did not lose a set against either of its opponents at Romano Gymnasium. She also averaged 4.67 points per match, the third highest total of any player in the NSIC last week.

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week

#1 Shannon McGowan (DS, 5-7, So., Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley HS) Winona State

Shannon McGowan lead all NSIC players in digs this past week as she dug 62 balls for a 6.20 per game average. She added 4 assists and 2 service aces. She had 21 and 23 digs in respective matches against St. Cloud State.

NSIC Setter of the Week

#8 Eleena Iisakka (S, 5-10, So., Esko, Minn. / Esko HS) Minnesota Duluth

Eleena Iisakka finished the weekend with 72 kill assists in just two matches at Romano Gymnasium, good for an average of 12.00 per set. Iisakka’s steady hand helped the Bulldogs hit a league leading .434 as a team in two NSIC victories, both of which came in straight sets. She also added four service aces in the six sets played.