GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 2 of the 2025 volleyball season. Parkside swept the awards with junior outside hitter Ava Irvin (Offensive), junior libero Natalie Harris (Defensive) and junior setter Lucy Russ (Setter) being honored.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ava Irvin, Parkside
Parkside junior outside hitter Ava Irvin has been selected as the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after powering the Rangers to a perfect 4-0 weekend and their best start in NCAA program history. Irvin was unstoppable at the net, finishing with 67 kills across the four matches to lead the Rangers’ attack. She added two aces, 35 digs, and 15 total blocks. The junior recorded double-digit kills in all four matches, highlighted by a 20-kill performance in the win over Bemidji State. She also posted double-doubles against Winona State and Missouri S&T, helping Parkside extend its unbeaten record to 7-0 — the best start for the program since joining the NCAA in 1995.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Natalie Harris, Parkside
For the second consecutive week, Parkside volleyball libero Natalie Harris has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week following another dominant stretch on the court. Harris totaled 99 digs across four matches, averaging 5.82 digs per set, as the Rangers went 4-0 to improve to 7-0 on the season. The unbeaten start marks Parkside’s best since joining the NCAA in 1995. The junior libero elevated her game throughout the weekend, recording a career-high 32 digs on Friday night before surpassing that mark with 34 digs in Saturday’s win over Missouri S&T. She also contributed four aces from the service line. Through two weeks of play, Harris leads the GLIAC in both digs and digs per set, and her 5.82 digs per set rank eighth in all of NCAA Division II.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Lucy Russ, Parkside
Parkside junior setter Lucy Russ has been named the GLIAC Setter of the Week after guiding the Rangers to a 4-0 weekend and the best start in NCAA program history. Russ directed a balanced and high-powered Parkside offense, dishing out 170 assists an average of 10.0 per set over the four matches. She also contributed five aces and 43 digs. Her strong play included three double-doubles on the weekend, capped by a career-high 55 assists in Saturday night’s win over Missouri S&T. With 290 assists on the season, Russ currently leads the GLIAC and ranks 15th in all of NCAA Division II. Thanks to her efforts, Parkside improved to 7-0, marking its best start since joining the NCAA in 1995.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Abby Alan (Davenport), Kayla Giroux (Wayne State), McKenzie Gruner (Northern Michigan)Gabby Piazza (Ferris State), Kennedy Rowzee (Purdue Northwest), Brianna Stawski (Grand Valley State), Rachel Townsend (Saginaw Valley State)
Defense: Leigha Baldwin (Wayne State), Elizabeth Bruschuk (Saginaw Valley State), Lauren Cardwell (Northern Michigan), Hayley Carr (Davenport), Cydney Martinez (Roosevelt), Kennedy Rowzee (Purdue Northwest), Brianna Stawski (Grand Valley State), Jasmine Wellet (Ferris State)
Setter: Allie Barlow (Northern Michigan), Madison Berry (Davenport), Kayla Dulgar (Wayne State), Marina Gronkiewicz (Purdue Northwest), Meghan O'Sullivan (Grand Valley State), Jackie Scheiber (Saginaw Valley State), Hayley Wegener (Ferris State)
