MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – After leading the league in blocking this past week, West Virginia University volleyball’s Mia Swanegan has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for matches played from Oct. 19-22 as announced by the league office on Monday.

 

It marks the second time this season the Blue Springs, Missouri, native has earned the honor. She was previously named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.

 

“Mia has really worked hard on all aspects of her game,” said WVU coach Reed Sunahara. “Her blocking has been crucial to us and kept us in matches at times. We’re happy that she’s been honored with this award.”

 

Swanegan posted a league-best 1.75 blocks per set through a pair of matches in Kansas this week. The middle blocker tallied a career-high 13 blocks in a five-set loss to K-State on Saturday, the second-highest total in a single match by a Big 12 player this season. Swanegan also hit .227 with seven kills and a block against Kansas. She totaled 15 kills and 14 blocks on the week.

 

In her junior year, Swanegan has developed into one of the league’s premier blockers. She leads the Big 12 with 1.43 blocks for set with a total of 117 on the season. Swanegan ranks 18th among all NCAA Division I players in blocks per set and is 14th in total blocks.

 

The Mountaineers will host Texas Tech in league action on Saturday. First serve is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the WVU Coliseum.