Whitehead named Sports Imports/AVCA ‘Player of the Week’
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Northern Michigan’s Madison Whitehead was named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Week, the AVCA announced Tuesday afternoon.
Whitehead is the seventh Wildcat in program history to be honored as the National Player of the Week and one of only two to receive this award in the past 10 years.
“What a tremendous award for our program, team and for Madison,” head coach Dominic Yoder said. “Madison has worked very hard at her volleyball craft, yet she still has unlimited upside. I am very proud of Madison and our team’s accomplishment.”
Whitehead, who was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week Monday, posted a career-high 26 kills to lead Northern Michigan to a five-set upset win over No. 1 Ferris State Oct. 31.
Over the weekend, she averaged 3.80 kills per set and a .300 hitting percentage. She also posted 10 total blocks, seven of which came in the Wildcats’ tight five-set loss to Grand Valley State Friday.
The last Wildcat to be named National Player of the Week was Caryn VanBeckum on Oct. 22, 2007. VanBeckum led Northern Michigan to an upset of No. 8 Grand Valley State that weekend, tallying 26 kills, six digs and two blocks.
Whitehead and the Wildcats return to action tonight at 7 p.m. when they take on rival Michigan Tech in Houghton.
(COURESTY MTU ATHLETICS)