Catawba’s Melissa Powers Named Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player Of The Week

Melissa Powers, a senior middle blocker for Catawba College, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week.

She earned the award after guiding her team to three wins last week, which helped the Indians earn a tie for second place in the South Atlantic Conference.

In Catawba's first match, a sweep of UNC Pembroke, Powers hit at a .406 clip behind 16 kills on 32 attempts, while also picking up six digs, one ace and two block assists in the win. In the next match, a 3-1 win over Tusculum, she hit .615 on the strength of 28 kills in 39 attempts, while also adding five digs, two aces and five blocks. She ended the week with her best personal performance in a sweep of Mars Hill. In the match, she hit .520 on 13 kills in 25 attempts with zero errors. She also completed a double-double, as she scooped up 18 digs in the match.

For the week, Powers hit a remarkable .521, and averaged 5.7 kills and 2.9 digs per set.

This is the second time that Powers has earned the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week award, and only the second time an athlete from Catawba has earned the award. Powers last received the award on Sept. 10, 2007. The Indians are coached by Ginger Hamric.