Northwest Conference honors players

The Pacific University Volleyball team is not only already sweeping games, but accolades as well.
Freshmen Haley Walz and junior Mila Ivkovic were named the Northwest Conference defensive and offensive student-athletes of the week, for the week of Sept. 11, sending a message to the rest of the conference that they are a force to be reckoned with, as the season progresses.
The two players earned these awards after a four-set win over George Fox University, and a close five-set loss to the top-ten ranked Pacific Lutheran University. During the game, Walz averaged 5.89 digs per set, for a grand total of 53 digs in the game. Ivkovic averaged 3.89 kills per set, with a .414 hitting percentage. The team went on to sweep Whitman College and lost to Whitworth University the following week.
“We wanted to show that we are a top tier team straight out of the gate in conference play,” Ivkovic said. “And by earning these Northwest Conference honors, I believe we did that.”
Freshmen libero Haley Walz said, “Sweeping all-conference honors was a big achievement for both our defensive and offensive players. It really reflects the potential we have and how effective our system works when everyone does their job.”
Ivkovic and Walz are adamant about the team’s future success, based on everyone doing their specific job to make the team better and to never underestimate opponents.
The vast amount of experience on the floor from game to game will certainly be an advantage in the weeks to come, as the team gets deeper into conference play. Along with Ivkovic and Walz, the team will rely heavily on key players like seniors Ellie Parker and Morgan Mendicino, and junior Karlee Duncan.
“We want to finish top of conference,” Ivkovic said. “And to do so we have to focus on making the changes, pushing each other and have a winners mentality when going into game day.”
The Boxers will face Willamette University in their next game when they travel to Salem, Ore., on Friday, Sept. 28.