Cowgirls Round-Up Both Volleyball Weekly Awards
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s middle blocker Shanna Spree and libero Angela McGownd were named the Southland Conference Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday. Southland Players of the Week are presented by
UniversalCoin.com.
The Cowgirls swept the awards after the team went a perfect 4-0 last week, including winning the Fly Hyman Collegiate Cup in Houston. McNeese – who improved its 2017 record to 6-4 – defeated Grambling, Mississippi State, Houston and Stetson.
This is the first time McNeese has won a weekly volleyball award since Sept. 30, 2013, when Malina Sanchez claimed offensive honors.
McNeese will travel to Prairie View for a match against the Panthers on Tuesday before concluding its 2017 tournament play at the Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational in Macomb, Ill., this weekend against Drake, Valparaiso and Western Illinois.
Offensive Player of the Week: Shanna Spree – McNeese – So. – Middle Blocker – Houston
Spree played in all four matches for McNeese and produced a .315 hitting percentage with 39 kills on 108 attempts. The sophomore middle blocker committed just five errors on the week. Competing in her hometown Friday against the Cougars, Spree recorded a career-high seven blocks and then set a career-high in kills the next day with 15 on Stetson. She led the Cowgirls with 15 blocks and nine services aces for the week.
Honorable Mention: Brooke White, Sam Houston State; Corin Evans, Stephen F. Austin; Bailey Banks, Houston Baptist; Samantha Anderson, Central Arkansas.
Defensive Player of the Week: Angela McGownd – McNeese – So. – Libero – Loveland, Colo.
McGownd led a McNeese backrow that gave up just three sets and picked up four wins on the week. The sophomore libero averaged 7.07 digs per set and tallied at least 10 digs in each match. In a five-set win over Houston on Friday, McGownd recorded a career-best 37 digs (her previous best was 32 against the Cougars on Aug. 25). The Loveland, Colo., native was named to the all-tournament team after garnering 87 digs for a 7.25 digs per set average.
Honorable Mention: Blair Gillard, Houston Baptist; Lexus Cain, Stephen F. Austin; Lauren Walker, Abilene Christian.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.