Ball State University Athletics
Alyssa Rio Named CVU.com National Player Of The Week
November 02, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - After turning in a pair of dominating defensive performances last weekend, Ball State women's volleyball senior libero Alyssa Rio (Wayne, Ill./St. Francis H.S.) has been named The Collegiate Volleyball Update National Player of the Week.
"It is truly an honor for Alyssa to be recognized as the National Player of the Week," said Ball State head coach Steve Shondell. "Her play last weekend is just an example of how she has anchored our defense all season long. Her drive and determination to win have played a huge role in our success this season, and I look for her to continue to lead our team emotionally as we enter the most important part of our schedule."
Also named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season and the fourth time in her career, Rio is just the second BSU player to be honored as the CVU.com National Player of the Week. She joins Amanda McCormick (2005-06) who earned the award in both 2005 and 2006. Rio and McCormick are the only two players in program history to earn any type of National Player of the Week accolades.
Rio helped the Cardinals to sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference for the first time since the end of the 2002 season by averaging 7.88 digs-per-set last weekend. She also posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage in BSU's two matches.
In Friday's win over Western Michigan, Rio helped the Cardinals claim their first win over the Broncos since the 2006 season by collecting a career-high 44 digs. In the shortened fifth set alone, Rio collected nine digs to help Ball State snap a seven-match losing streak to WMU. She also posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage in the contest, passing all 16 balls served her way, while adding four assists and a service ace.
In Saturday's win over Northern Illinois, Rio added a 19 digs to help BSU sweep the season series versus the Huskies and hand NIU their first league sweep of the season. Her defensive play helped limit the league's top hitting team to a .151 effort for the match. She was also perfect in eight reception attempts while adding four assists and an ace.
Rio enters the week ranked fourth in the nation with a 5.78 digs-per-set average. With her career-best 44 dig effort versus Western Michigan, Rio moved into a tie for first-place in program history with 20-or-more digs in 45 career matches. After posting double-digit digs in both of BSU's matches last weekend, Rio also moved into sole possession of second in program history with double-digit digs in 92 career matches.
The Ball State women's volleyball team returns to the road for the final time in the 2010 regular season this weekend with a pair of pivotal MAC West Division matches. Friday, the Cardinals visit Eastern Michigan who is one match behind BSU in the league standings. Saturday, the Cardinals travel to MAC West Division preseason favorite Central Michigan (6-6 MAC). Both contests start at 7 p.m.
