DENVER, Colo. – North Dakota State University libero Mikaela Purnell repeated as the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, and was joined on the All-Summit League volleyball team by teammate Brianna Rasmusson. The league made the announcement on Thursday, Nov. 16.
 
Purnell, a 5-9 senior from Excelsior, Minn., enters the weekend ranked fourth nationally with 6.10 digs per set 18^th with 567 digs overall. She has reached double-figure digs in 24 of 26 matches this season including a career-high 36 at Omaha (11-12-17). Purnell ranks first all-time averaging 4.78 digs per set and second all-time with 1,655 overall.
 
Purnell is the second NDSU player to receive the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honor twice joining Kelly Lopez, who received the award in 2008 and 2009. Purnell was a five-time Defensive Player of the Week this season and nine times in her career.
 
Rasmusson, a 5-11 senior setter from Fergus Falls, Minn., makes her first appearance on the all-league team. She was named to the league's all-freshman team in 2014. Rasmusson is averaging 9.77 assists and 3.27 digs per set, and has 62 blocks and a team-high 32 service aces. Rasmusson became the seventh NDSU to record over 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career.
 
North Dakota State (18-8) opens Summit League tournament play against Omaha (10-17) at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, in Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver.
 
2017 #SummitVB All-League
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts
Becca Latham, Denver
Brittany Jessen, South Dakota
Brianna Rasmusson, North Dakota State
Hayley Dotseth, South Dakota  
Mikaela Purnell, North Dakota State
CeCe Madison, Oral Roberts    
Nicole Rightnowar, Fort Wayne
Kayla Principato, Denver           
Emma Willis, Denver
Sydney O'Shaughnessy, Neb.-Omaha   
Anne Rasmussen, South Dakota           
 
2017 #SummitVB All-League Honorable Mention
Cassie Baird, Denver
Abby Bergsten, Neb.-Omaha
Bella Sade, Neb.-Omaha
Mackenzie Steckler, Western Illinois
Katie Crowe, Fort Wayne
Cassidy Rooke, Denver
 
2017 #SummitVB All-Freshman Team
Bella Sade, Neb.-Omaha           
Tina Boe, Denver         
Katie Crowe, Fort Wayne
Ellie Anderson, Denver 
Morgan Blomquist, Oral Roberts
Claire Mountjoy, Neb.-Omaha    
Anna Blaschko, Neb.-Omaha    
 
2017 #SummitVB Coach of the Year
Tom Hogan, Denver     
 
2017 #SummitVB Freshman of the Year
Bella Sade, Neb.-Omaha           
 
2017 #SummitVB Defensive Player of the Year
Mikaela Purnell, North Dakota State   
 
2017 #SummitVB Setter of the Year
Brittany Jessen, South Dakota  
 
2017 #SummitVB Player of the Year
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts