Seward Sweeps Weekly Awards

LIBERAL, Kan. – For the first time all season, one team has won every Jayhawk West weekly award for volleyball – the No. 9 Seward County Lady Saints. Giovanna Tapigliani was named Jayhawk West Player of the Week, Giovanna Kuntze was named Setter of the Week for the third straight week, and Luz Sierra was named Defensive Player of the Week.

In a week where the Lady Saints played three ranked teams, and another who was receiving votes, Giovanna Tapigliani was a key player for a team that went 3-1 in that span. In the upset of No. 8 Snow College, she recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. In the final two matches of weekend, she recorded two straight 20 kill matches against two top 15 opponents. While her kill total was impressive, she was also very efficient, hitting .458 for the week.

Luz Sierra, Seward County, had an incredible week at the net, averaging 1.5 blocks per set. In the upset of No. 8 Snow, she finished the match with 6 blocks. Of the six matches of the week, Sierra recorded at least five blocks in five of them.

For the third time this season, Giovanna Kuntze was able record over 50 assists in a match. This time, the assists helped the Lady Saints pull off the upset of No. Snow, in a decisive 3-1 victory. In the match she averaged 13.5 assists per set. That match also marked the first of two double-doubles recorded against ranked teams on the weekend. While she had 54 assists and 17 digs agsint #8 Snow, she recorded 48 assists and 17 digs against No. 10 Salt Lake. For the week, she averaged 10.62 assists per set.

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Ian Applegate