SXU's Jensen, Martinez, SAU's Marques Net Women's Volleyball Weekly Recognition
CHICAGO --- Saint Xavier University's Jenny Jensen (Orland Park, Ill.) and Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) and St. Ambrose University's Ines Marques (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) have secured the fourth round of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly women's volleyball honors, it was announced on Tuesday.
Jensen was recognized as the CCAC Attacker of the Week after averaging 3.27 kills per set and hitting at a nearly .300 clip (.296) over her three matches and 11 sets played during the seven-day period ending Sept. 14. The senior right-side attacker committed just seven errors in 98 chances with 36 resulting in kills over the three matches. She also recorded 19 digs.
Jensen delivered double-figure kill totals in all three matches, topped by her season-best 13 in a four-set win over Calumet College of St. Joseph last Tuesday. She added another 12 kills to go along with eight digs in a four-set decision over Indiana University South Bend on Thursday.
Jensen closed out the week with 11 kills and five digs in a three-set decision over Lourdes University (Ohio).
While Jensen was getting things done on the offensive end, her teammate Martinez was doing the same thing on defense to garner that recognition. The senior libero averaged 6.0 digs per set, while also committing just one reception error in 45 chances (.978).
Martinez' highest production of the week came on Thursday when she posted a season-high 32 digs (8.0 avg.) and 18 passes without error in the win over Indiana South Bend. She added another 19 digs and 10 receptions versus Lourdes and 15 digs and 16 passes opposite Calumet St. Joseph.
Saint Xavier's perfect 3-0 week put the Cougars back at .500 overall (4-4) and 2-1 in league matchups.
Marques rounded out the award winners with her CCAC Setter of the Week honor. She averaged 8.06 assists per outing to go along with her 2.29 digs-per-set average covering five matches.
The junior opened the busy stretch with a double-double of 42 assists and 17 digs in a four-set win versus University of St. Francis on Wednesday. She also had 28 assists in a three-set loss to Dordt University (Iowa) on Friday and 27 in a straight-set win over Tabor College (Kan.) on Saturday.
Marques' other 20-plus assist match came in a four-set loss to Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Friday.
St. Ambrose produced a 2-3 record on the week and is now 6-9 overall and 1-2 in the CCAC.
Other Attacker Nominees: Izzy Jahr (Viterbo), Berta Comino Couceiro (Calumet St. Joseph), Lindsey Krueger (Indiana Northwest), Naomi Monney-Hori (Olivet Nazarene), Alexa Orozco (St. Ambrose), Raimey Owens (Trinity Christian), Jaclyn Riedl (Judson).
Other Defender Nominees: Resse Germann (Viterbo), Aolani Cannon (Trinity Christian), Kennedy DeBaillie (St. Ambrose), Melina Hanes (Calumet St. Joseph), Julianna Kisel (Indiana Northwest), Breanna Lamie (Olivet Nazarene).
Other Setter Nominees: Maddie Connor (Viterbo), Alexis Bartz (Trinity Christian), Analiese Fredin (Olivet Nazarene), Samantha Hovey (Saint Xavier), Gabi Lilovich (Indiana Northwest), Cristal Lopez (Calumet St. Joseph), Alina Romero (Judson).