SARAH VON LIENEN NAMED GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE'S WEST DIVISION OFFENSIVE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech sophomore middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.) has been named this week’s Gulf South Conference’s West Division Offensive Player of the Week by the league office in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday.

It is the sixth time in her career and fourth time this season that Von Lienen has been honored by the league, but the first time she been honored on offense. She was named the GSC West Division Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2, Oct. 10 and Oct. 17. In addition, freshman libero Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.) was named the GSC West Division Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.

          Von Lienen, who was named the GSC West Division Freshman of the Year last season, earns this week’s offensive honor after helping guide the Golden Suns to a 3-0 record this past week, including helping Tech earn its first win in Searcy, Ark., over Harding since 2002. For the week, Von Lienen hit .600 and recorded 41 kills in 10 sets. In addition, she recorded double-digits in kills in all three matches, including slamming down 18 kills in Tech’s four-set win last Thursday at Harding. She also had 11 total blocks, including three solo blocks, added four services aces in Tech’s three-set non-conference victory over Bacone College and did not hit lower than .500 in any of Tech’s three matches, including hitting .692 in Tech’s three-set home win last Tuesday over Southern Arkansas.

           On the season, Von Lienen has played in 99 sets and leads the team in blocks (109), solo blocks (34) and hitting percentage (.369). She has recorded 262 kills (2.65 kps) and has only had 64 errors in 536 attack attempts. In addition, she has had 12 double-digit kill matches and has had five of more blocks in 12 matches.

          In addition to Von Lienen, Henderson State junior libero Bethany Wright was named the West Division’s Defensive Player of the Week. In the East Division, West Georgia junior outside hitter Andressa Martins and Valdosta State freshman middle blocker Chelsea Logan were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week respectively.

          Von Lienen and her Golden Sun teammates return to action on Tuesday when they host a doubleheader at Tucker Coliseum beginning at 5 p.m. against Champion Baptist and then facing Lyon College at 7 p.m. Following Tuesday’s doubleheader, Tech will conclude the road portion of its regular season schedule on Thursday, Oct. 30, with a match at Christian Brothers beginning at 7 p.m.

          GSC Weekly Volleyball release

         -- Tech Athletics --