Liberal’s Westerman Wins Second Weekly Award

In a repeat from last week, Wayland Baptist volleyball players Shahala Hawkins and Ashlyn Westerman were honored by the Sooner Athletic Conference. Hawkins repeated as Hitter of the Week while Westerman again collected Setter of the Week honors.

Hawkins and Westerman led the Pioneers to a 3-2 record last week, including a win over No. 20 Cal State-San Marcos and a near-victory over No. 9 The Master’s at the Menlo College Tournament in Atherton, Calif.

A sophomore outside hitter from Denver City, Hawkins averaged 3.35 kills and hit .335 for the week while recording 26 blocks (10 solo), four aces and 16 digs in the five outings.

Westerman, a junior from Liberal, Kan., averaged 11.65 assists as part of three 50-assist matches. She also had 43 digs, three aces, seven blocks and eight kills on the week.

Also repeating as SAC Player of the Week was Kristin Pressley of Oklahoma Baptist, and OBU’s Valerie Stetzer as Libero of the Week. Pressley, a senior outside hitter from Mansfield, averaged four kills and 4.36 digs per set while attacking at a .312 percentage. She also had six aces, four assists and one block. Stetzer, a freshman from Arlington, averaged 3.79 digs and had three aces as OBU went 3-1 in the Hastings Tournament.

The Pioneers (8-2), who look to break into the NAIA Top 25 this week after received votes in the preseason poll, continue their 16-match, month-long road trip at the LaQuinta Kansas Wesleyan Invitational this weekend in Salinas, Kan. On Friday, WBU takes on Tabor College at 2 p.m. and York College at 6 p.m., and on Saturday meets College of the Ozarks at 8:30 a.m. and Kansas Wesleyan at 3 p.m. Both College of the Ozarks and Kansas Wesleyan received Top 25 preseason votes.