SALEM, ORE. -- Outside hitter Molly Blankenship (Priest River, ID/Lamanna HS/Spokane Falls CC) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week for her contributions to a pair of victories during the week ending Sunday, Oct. 18. Blankenship led the Bearcats to a 3-0 win over Whitworth University on Friday and a 3-1 triumph over Whitman on Saturday.
She averaged 4.86 kills and 2.43 digs per game, while earning an impressive .458 hitting percentage. In WU's 25-20, 25-17, 27-25 victory against Whitworth, she pounded out 12 kills and seven digs. She provided a double-double with 22 kills and 10 digs in the Bearcats' 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 win over Whitman.
Willamette swept the season series with Whitworth, 2-0. The Bearcats evened their series with Whitman at a match apiece, as Willamette avenged a 3-1 loss in Walla Walla, Wash., earlier this season.
For the year, Blankenship is averaging 2.90 kills and 2.07 digs per game. She has supplied the Bearcats with 0.48 total blocks and 0.31 service aces per contest.
The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Oct. 23 at the University of Puget Sound. Match time in Tacoma, Wash., is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).
Molly Blankenship led Willamette to a 2-0 week by averaging 4.86 kills and 2.43 digs per game.
