NAIA Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Giovanna Tapigliani of Missouri Baptist has been named the NAIA National Women’s Volleyball Attacker of the Week, Emily Jones, Aquinas (Mich.) has been named the NAIA National Women’s Volleyball Defender of the Week and Manuela Vargas, Missouri Baptist has been named the NAIA National Volleyball Setter of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. The trio was selected based on their performances from Sept. 6-12 and were chosen out of a pool of conference and Association of Independent Institution winners.
Attacker of the Week: Giovanna Tapigliani, Missouri Baptist
Tapigliani led her team in kills in each win last week including a pair of Top-20 wins vs. No. 11 CMU and No. 20 Lindsey Wilson. She tied a career-high with 23 kills in CMU win. Not typically known for defense, Tapigliani excelled this past week with 0.54 blocks/set and 1.69 digs/set.
Defender of the Week: Emily Jones, Aquinas (Mich.)
Jones helped lead the Saints to a 5-0 record after totaling 36 blocks (four solo). She tied a career-high twice with 10 total blocks against Concordia and Rochester, and also contributed 42 kills and 19 assists throughout the week.
Setter of the Week: Manuela Vargas, Missouri Baptist
Vargas directed the Spartan attack to a 4-0 week and played her best volleyball against the ranked competition. This included a 58-assist (14.50 a/s) and 14 dig double-double performance in the 3-1 win over No. 20 Lindsey Wilson and finished the weekend with a career-high 61 assists (15.25 a/s) and 14 digs against No. 11 CMU.