University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Powers earns first MVC Defensive Player of the Week honor
10/16/2023 2:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panther libero earns second career weekly conference award after breakout performances against Missouri State, Southern Illinois.
ST. LOUIS --- UNI libero Erin Powers has been named the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)'s Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.Â
The honor comes after Powers led UNI's backline defense in helping the Panthers improve to 8-0 in league play with sweeps against Missouri State and Southern Illinois at home. Leading the purple and gold with 27 total digs (4.5 per set) and zero receiving errors, Powers notched 16 digs against the Bears and 11 against the Salukis, while also dishing out a pair of service aces against SIU. Averaging 4.9 digs per set, Powers also picked up her 1,400th career dig on Friday night against Missouri State, and scored a rare kill on a third set attack vs. SIU, her first as a Panther.
The selection marks Powers' first MVC honor of her career and second weekly award at the conference level of her career. A transfer from UAB, she earned Conference-USA (C-USA) Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24, 2022, and was also a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2020-21.
A native of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, Powers is the daughter of Steve and Tracey Powers, and sister of Natalie and Emma. She is currently majoring in psychology.
Powers and the Panther return to action tonight on the road against in-state rival Drake. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
