By: Nash Loibl, Advanced Graduate Assistant / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its Week 7 Volleyball Player of the Week awards on Monday, with Black Hills State’s Ellie Thomas joining Colorado Mesa’s Henley Madsen and Ashlyn Tafoya as the latest award winners.

Offensive
Henley Madsen, Colorado Mesa (Freshman, Opposite, Park City, Utah)
Madsen delivered a standout performance for Colorado Mesa, helping lead the Mavericks to a perfect 2-0 week with key victories over Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo. In the week’s opener against CCU, Madsen recorded a season-high 17 kills and 15 digs, earning her first collegiate double-double in a 3-1 home win. She followed that up with another strong showing against CSU Pueblo, notching 11 kills, three blocks, and two service aces to help snap the ThunderWolves’ unbeaten conference streak. Across both matches, the freshman totaled 28 kills (3.50 per set) and 33 points, to lead the Maverick attack.

Others Nominated: Rowan Tribelhorn, Adams State; Peyton McLeod, Black Hills State; Mataya Ward, Chadron State; Abbie O’Shay, Colorado School of Mines; Caelyn Gunn, CSU Pueblo; Skyler Michael, MSU Denver; Yuli Favela, New Mexico Highlands; Braiziah Dixon, Regis; Lexi Glendenning, South Dakota Mines; Payton Tompkins, UCCS; Josie Gerritsen, Westminster.

Defensive
Ellie Thomas, Black Hills State (Senior, Libero, Gillette, Wyoming)
Thomas was a defensive powerhouse for the Yellow Jackets as they faced off against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. The senior kicked off the week with a 20-dig performance against the Grizzlies, setting the tone early. She followed that up with an even stronger outing against the Cowgirls, racking up 24 digs with an impressive 8.0 per set. Her consistent dominance in the back row helped her lead the conference with 6.29 digs per set for the week. On the season, Thomas paces the conference in digs (307) and digs per set (4.72).

Others Nominated: Logan Conlin, Adams State; Josie Loosvelt, Chadron State; Aesha Alrashed, Colorado Mesa; Jada Price, Colorado School of Mines; Finja Schul, CSU Pueblo; Kryssa Moerman, MSU Denver; Becca Wiersema, New Mexico Highlands; Braiziah Dixon, Regis; Maria Bouman, South Dakota Mines; Sydney Hyde, UCCS; Ava Livolsi, Westminster.

Setter
Ashlyn Tafoya, Colorado Mesa (Freshman, Setter, Loveland, Colorado)
Tafoya played a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ 2-0 weekend, tallying 83 assists (10.38 per set), 23 digs (2.88 per set), and eight kills while hitting an impressive .471. Her all-around performance helped guide CMU to four-set victories over both Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo. The freshman setter posted double-doubles in both matches, bringing her season total to seven. On Friday, she dished out a season-high 47 assists and added 10 digs against Colorado Christian. She followed that with 36 assists and 13 digs on Saturday, helping CMU hand the ThunderWolves their first conference loss after a nine-match win streak.

Others Nominated: Peyton Priddy, Adams State; Elena Atkinson, Black Hills State; Jillian Donovan, Chadron State; Hailee Martinez, Colorado School of Mines; Elena Stankovic, CSU Pueblo; Karyna Werley, MSU Denver; Marissa Sandoval-Moya, New Mexico Highlands; Bailey Nichols, Regis; Louisa Battin, South Dakota Mines; Audrey Dowd, UCCS; Leila Cornejo, Westminster.

About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.