BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball senior Ava Athman has earned the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Offensive Player of the Week nod after helping the Beavers to a 2-1 week. 
 
The senior from Sauk Rapids, Minn. earned the NSIC's honor after posting a conference-leading 4.83 kills per set and 5.42 points per set against University of Minnesota Crookston, Winona State University and Concordia University, St. Paul. Against UMC, Athman broke into the BSU record book for most kills in a three-set match with 19, hitting at 53.1 percent. At Winona State, Athman hit .639 percent with 23 kills and no errors, helping the Beavers take the 3-1 win over the Warriors. 
 
Athman is the Beavers' first NSIC Player of the Week honoree since 2019. The full NSIC lineup is below.
 
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#13 Ava Athman (OPP, 5-10, Sr., Sauk Rapids, Minn. / Sauk Rapids HS) - Bemidji State

• Led the NSIC in kills per set (4.83) and points per set (5.42) as BSU went 2-1
• Hit .639 with 23 kills and no errors in a 3-1 win at WSU
• Added 16 kills and 11 digs in a five-set loss at No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul
• Totaled 58 kills while hitting .495 (third best in the NSIC this week)
• Added 25 digs, 8 assisted blocks, 3 service aces, and 2 assists
• Moved into fifth place in school history for kills in a three-set match with 19 against UMC

 
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#4 Chloe Hanel (MH, 6-0, Jr., Clarkson, Neb. / Clarkson-Leigh HS) - Wayne State

• Had 1.60 blocks per set during three NSIC road wins
• Recorded 9 blocks, including 5 solo blocks, and 9 kills against Jamestown
• Posted 17 kills and 3 blocks against Northern State
• Added 4 blocks in a sweep of Southwest Minnesota State
• Hit .351 for the week and averaged 3.00 kills per set
• Helped hold opponents to an NSIC low .130 hitting percentage
   

NSIC Setter of the Week
#14 Braya LaPlant (S, 6-0, Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn. / Grand Rapids HS) - St. Cloud State

• Led the NSIC with 11.91 assists per set
• Helped guide the Huskies to 14.73 kills per set and a .299 hitting percentage
• Averaged 2.27 digs, 0.45 aces, and 0.36 blocks per set
• Recorded a 50-assist, 11-dig double-double with 3 aces against Winona State
• Posted a season-high 50 assists, the most by a Husky this season
• Tallied 47 assists and 9 digs against MSU Moorhead
• Recorded 34 assists and 2 aces against Minnesota Crookston

 
This weekend, the Beavers host St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato Friday and Saturday in Bemidji. 
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Volleyball program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversVB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversVB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).