COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its Week 11 RMAC Volleyball Players of the Week on Monday, and South Dakota Mines swept the final Player of the Week Awards with Alessandra Meoni, Hannah Benes and Kiley Metzger taking home Offensive, Defensive, and Setter of the Week honors, respectively.
 
Offensive Player of the Week: Alessandra Meoni, South Dakota Mines (Sr., RS, Padova, Italy)
Meoni capped off her 2024 regular season with wins against Westminster and Colorado Mesa. In Friday’s contest against the Griffins, the Padova, Italy native added another double-double to her resume, recording 14 kills and 15 digs on .375 hitting. Against the Mavericks, the No. 2 ranked team in the conference, Meoni racked up 16 kills for 4.0 points per set, leading her squad to a five-set victory. On the season, Meoni leads the league in kills (399) and points (452.5).
 
Honorable Mention: Randi Wellhoefer, Black Hills State; Rayliene Joens, CSU Pueblo; Aiyana Fujiyama, Chadron State; Abby Newell, Colorado Christian; Sydney Leffler, Colorado Mesa; Riley Anderson, MSU Denver; Amelia Davis, Regis; Payton Tompkins, UCCS; Kelly Kennedy, Western Colorado; Breegan Huntsman, Westminster.
 
Defensive Player of the Week: Hannah Benes, South Dakota Mines (Jr., DS/L, Antioch, Illinois)
Benes helped the Hardrockers improve to 18-8 on the season and 11-3 in conference play. Benes started the weekend with a 16-dig performance against Westminster, pushing the Hardrockers to a 3-0 win. She followed this up with a 28-dig outing (5.60 per set) against No. 14 Colorado Mesa to finish the regular season on a high note. Benes and the Hardrockers hold the No. 3 seed in the 2024 RMAC Volleyball Tournament with a first-round matchup against Colorado Christian next on the schedule.
 
Honorable Mention: Anna Huggins, Adams State; Ellie Thomas, Black Hills State; Golden Finch, CSU Pueblo; Bella Adams, Chadron State; Lilly Woods, Colorado Christian; Sierra Hunt, Colorado Mesa; Alyssa Boyte, MSU Denver; Braiziah Dixon, Regis; Mackenzie Ransom, UCCS; Josie Gerritsen, Westminster.
 
Setter of the Week: Kiley Metzger, South Dakota Mines (Gr., S, Rock Rapids, Iowa)
Metzger had a dominant weekend for South Dakota Mines, earning her 16th double-double. The Rock Rapids, Iowa native had the offensive flowing against Westminster, diming up 29 assists and six kills in a 3-0 victory for the Hardrockers. In Saturday’s match, Metzger kept the offense in a groove, tallying 38 assists, eight points, and four kills. On the season, Metzger ranks third in the league in assists (977) and fourth in assists per set (9.97).
 
Honorable Mention: Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner, Black Hills State; Hallie Hewlett, CSU Pueblo; Kendyl Kirkwood, Chadron State; Izzy Jones, Colorado Christian; Sabrina VanDeList, Colorado Mesa; Delaney Eckhardt, MSU Denver; Reagan Hickey, Regis; Audrey Dowd, UCCS; Nur Turkmenoglu, Western Colorado; Leila Cornejo, Westminster.