Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball?s Benson Earns Player Of The Week Honors
September 08, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State women's volleyball redshirt junior middle hitter Hayley Benson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
Benson becomes a three-time career MAC weekly award winner after picking up both offensive (Sept. 23, 2013) and defensive (Nov. 5, 2013) accolades last season.
“There is no question Hayley had her finest tournament as a Ball State Cardinal last weekend,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “She is really getting into a good rhythm offensively, and was a big spark for our team. Hayley continues to show why she is considered one of the league's top players.”
On her way to earning UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament honors last weekend, Benson led the Cardinals offense with 39 kills (3.25 per set) and posted a .492 (39-7-65) attack percentage over the team's three matches. She also tied for team-high honors with nine total blocks (two solo and seven assists).
In Saturday's match versus South Alabama, Benson smashed a career-high tying 17 kills in just three sets, while hitting .519 (17-3-27) for the contest. She tallied 13 kills and a .579 (13-2-19) attack percentage in Friday's win over Montana, while recording nine kills and a .368 (9-2-19) rate of success later in the evening versus Wyoming.
Benson and the Ball State women's volleyball team will continue their 12-match road swing this weekend, when they travel to Madison, Wis., for the HotelRED Invitational hosted by fourth-ranked Wisconsin.
The Cardinals open the two-day event Friday versus Missouri State (5:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. CT), and will play the University of Miami (11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT) and the host Badgers (8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT) Saturday.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
