By: Nash Loibl, Director of Strategic Communications and Internal Operations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa University freshman Molly Whalen joins Colorado School of Mines junior Jenna McLaughlin and freshman Kaiya Gilbert as the Week 7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Offensive
Molly Whalen, Colorado Mesa (Freshman, Outside Hitter, Litchfield Park, Ariz.)
Whalen has been named the Week 7 Offensive Player of the Week after helping lead the Mavericks to a pair of 3-1 road victories over Colorado Christian University and Colorado State University Pueblo. In CMU’s first match of the week, the freshman recorded 13 kills on a .357 hitting percentage to power the Mavericks past the Cougars (8-8, 5-3 RMAC). She followed that performance with 15 kills at a .324 clip against the ThunderWolves (9-10, 4-4 RMAC), averaging 3.75 kills per set in the victory. Across the two matches, the Litchfield Park, Arizona, native totaled 28 kills, 3.50 kills per set, 3.56 points per set, and a .339 hitting percentage. Whalen has now recorded double-figure kill totals in five straight matches.

Others Nominated: Rowan Tribelhorn, Adams State; Izzy Saiki, Black Hills State; Gibson Beckler, Chadron State; Connelly Kilgore, Colorado Christian; Abbie O’Shay, Colorado School of Mines; Lilly Zwart, CSU Pueblo; Hayden Liebsack, MSU Denver; Morgan Munro, Regis; Maria Bouman, South Dakota Mines; Payton Tompkins, UCCS.

Defensive
Jenna McLaughlin, Colorado School of Mines (Junior, Middle Blocker, Zanesville, Ohio)
 McLaughlin earns her third Defensive Player of the Week honor after helping lead Colorado School of Mines to sweeps over Western Colorado University and Fort Lewis College. In Friday’s matchup against the Mountaineers, McLaughlin tallied eight blocks in the three-set victory before adding four more blocks the following day against the Skyhawks. Across the two matches, she recorded 12 blocks in just six sets, bringing her season total to 89, while helping limit the two opponents to a combined .091 hitting percentage. McLaughlin is averaging 1.41 blocks per set, the fifth-best mark in the nation.

Others Nominated: Ashlyn Jones, Adams State; Izzy Saiki, Black Hills State; Avery Lacy, Chadron State; Aesha Alrashed, Colorado Mesa; Finja Schul, CSU Pueblo; Mia Accomazzo, MSU Denver; Kailyn Polzin, Regis; Maria Bouman, South Dakota Mines; Nicole Himebauch, UCCS.

Setter
Kaiya Gilbert, Colorado School of Mines (Freshman, Setter, Castle Rock, Colo.)
Gilbert secures yet another weekly honor in her debut season with the Orediggers, earning her fourth consecutive Setter of the Week award and fifth overall this season. The freshman played a key role in Colorado School of Mines’ 2-0 week, totaling 62 assists, 10.33 assists per set, 21 digs, five kills, five blocks, and five aces. She opened the week with 30 assists against Western Colorado before adding 32 more in Saturday’s matchup against Fort Lewis. Gilbert’s all-around contributions helped propel the Orediggers to their eighth consecutive victory.

Others Nominated: Isabella DeLaRosa, Adams State; Elena Atkinson, Black Hills State; Jillian Donovan, Chadron State; Krista Traynor, Colorado Christian; Hallie Hewlett, Colorado Mesa; Madison Gardner, CSU Pueblo; Nicole Shaver, Regis; Emily Henderson, South Dakota Mines; Aubrey Miller, UCCS.

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.