
Photo by: Daniel Kwon
NDSU's Mikaela Purnell Pegged Summit League Defensive Player of the Week
9/11/2017 2:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ELMHURST, Ill. – After another great weekend of #SummitVB action, Oral Roberts' Laura Milos nabbed her first Offensive Player of the Week award this season while Mikaela Purnell of North Dakota State notched her second of the year for her efforts on the defensive side of the net.
Milos blasted 53 kills in 10 sets (5.30 k/s) for the Golden Eagles while hitting at a .270 clip—23 points better than her season total coming into last week. Currently, she ranks No. 1 in the league in kills (156) and kills/set (5.03), and her 22 kills in a win over UCF marked the third time in 2017 Milos eclipsed 20-plus kills.
For the second time in three weeks, Purnell got the nod for Defensive Player of the Week after posting 66 digs in 11 sets (6.00 d/s). As of today, Purnell's 5.97 d/s season average is No. 8 in the NCAA and her season-high 27 digs in a three-set loss to North Dakota is tied for fifth-best nationally.
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts
Sr. // OH // Porec, Croatia
Previous Winners: Aug. 28 – Kayla Principato (Denver) | Sept. 5 – Brianna Rasmusson (NDSU)
Mikaela Purnell, North Dakota State
Sr. // L // Excelsior, Minn.
Previous Winners: Aug. 28 – Mikaela Purnell (NDSU) | Sept. 5 – Bella Lien (NDSU)
Milos blasted 53 kills in 10 sets (5.30 k/s) for the Golden Eagles while hitting at a .270 clip—23 points better than her season total coming into last week. Currently, she ranks No. 1 in the league in kills (156) and kills/set (5.03), and her 22 kills in a win over UCF marked the third time in 2017 Milos eclipsed 20-plus kills.
For the second time in three weeks, Purnell got the nod for Defensive Player of the Week after posting 66 digs in 11 sets (6.00 d/s). As of today, Purnell's 5.97 d/s season average is No. 8 in the NCAA and her season-high 27 digs in a three-set loss to North Dakota is tied for fifth-best nationally.
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts
Sr. // OH // Porec, Croatia
- Ranks No. 5 nationally in kills/set this season (5.03)
- Ranks No. 24 in NCAA in total kills this season (156)
- Accounts for three of the league's seven 20-plus kill performances in 2017
- Currently tied for most career Offensive Player of the Week titles in league history (12)
- Single-season league record holder for kills (631 – 2016) and kills/set (5.79 – 2016)
- Ranks No. 4 all-time in Summit League history with 1,872 career kills
Previous Winners: Aug. 28 – Kayla Principato (Denver) | Sept. 5 – Brianna Rasmusson (NDSU)
Mikaela Purnell, North Dakota State
Sr. // L // Excelsior, Minn.
- Six career Summit League Defensive Player of the Week titles
- Has posted double-figure digs in 28 consecutive matches dating back to September 18, 2016
- Has recorded 20-plus digs six times this season and 26 times in her career
- In NDSU history, ranks No. 2 in d/s (4.48) and No. 10 in digs (1,273)
- In Summit League history, ranks No. 7 in d/s (4.48)
- Summit League Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
Previous Winners: Aug. 28 – Mikaela Purnell (NDSU) | Sept. 5 – Bella Lien (NDSU)
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