Wingate’s Lauren Billo, Liz Willis Named Volleyball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Wingate University's Lauren Billo is the 2009 season's first volleyball Player of the Week, while teammate Liz Willis was named the volleyball Specialist of the Week.

Billo, a junior outside hitter from Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg HS), averaged 4.45 kills per set to help the Bulldogs to a 4-0 weekend at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational. Billo hit .441 on the week while also collecting 14 digs. Billo got the season started with 11 kills and an ace while hitting .321 in a 3-1 win over Pfeiffer. She followed that with 21 kills and a .485 hitting percentage in a 3-0 win over Limestone. She added 12 kills and three digs in the sweep over Coker.

Lauren Billo

Liz Willis

Willis, a sophomore setter from Raleigh, N.C. (Enloe HS) averaged 10.77 assists per set and 2.23 digs per set in Wingate's four matches at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational. She also added four aces on the weekend as the Bulldogs hit .276 as a team. Willis started off the season with 39 assists and 12 digs in the 3-1 win over Pfeiffer. She had 38 assists in the 3-0 win over ECSU while collecting 28 assists and eight digs in the 3-0 win over Coker.