The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 8 of the 2026 volleyball season. Ferris State outside hitter Gabby Piazza was selected as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Grand Valley State middle hitter Paige Sanders received GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and Wayne State setter Kayla Dulgar was honored as GLIAC Setter of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gabby Piazza, Ferris State
Ferris State University junior outside hitter Gabby Piazza claimed all-tournament team honors in leading the nation’s top-ranked Bulldogs to a perfect 3-0 mark at the Midwest Region Crossover this past weekend in Indiana. Piazza had a team-high 68 kills in FSU’s three wins, averaging 5.67 kills per set while hitting an impressive .354 overall on 147 swings. She added 34 digs for a 2.83 average and netted six blocks and five service aces. For the weekend, she tallied 79 points for Ferris State as the Bulldogs improved to 21-0 overall this year.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Paige Sanders, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State middle hitter Paige Sanders was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week following the weekend at the Midwest Region Crossover Tournament. Sanders recorded 35 kills, reaching double-digits in each of the three matches, adding 17 total blocks, while hitting .358 for the weekend. In the opening match against Cedarville, she totaled 14 kills on a .667 hitting percentage, posting one block. Later that day in a sweep of Drury, Sanders had 10 kills and six blocks, four solo and two block assists. On Saturday, the senior had her first career double-double, notching 11 kills and 10 blocks, setting a new single-game career high. An All- Tournament Team selection, this is Sanders’ second career GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week selection.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Kayla Dulgar, Wayne State
Kayla Dulgar (Warsaw, Ohio / River View) was named GLIAC Setter of the Week for the seventh time in her career and first instance this season on Monday afternoon. While leading Wayne State to its first 3-0 Midwest Region Crossover in 15 years on Friday-Saturday, Dulgar racked up 148 assists, or 13.5 per set, to go with 37 digs, three service aces, three kills, and one block. The senior secured her eighth double-double of the season on Friday against SBU with 61 assists (two off career high) and 20 digs (six off career high). That was her 39th career double-double, but first with 60+ assists and 20+ digs. Dulgar took over sole possession of fourth place in the program's record book for most career assists with 4,095.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Abby Alan (Davenport), Avary Polavin (Parkside), Paige Sanders (Grand Valley State), Katie Smith (Wayne State), Rachel Steele (Lake Superior State), Rachel Townsend (Saginaw Valley State), Rachel Zurek (Michigan Tech)
Defense: Hayley Carr (Davenport), Hope Davies (Ferris State), Lauren Essenpreis (Wayne State), Natalie Harris (Parkside), Keeley Nellis (Michigan Tech), Kendall White (Saginaw Valley State)
Setter: Madison Berry (Davenport), Azra Bilgicer (Lake Superior State), Madelynn Kreider (Michigan Tech), Gabby Orlet (Grand Valley State), Lucy Russ (Parkside), Taylor Smith (Saginaw Valley State), Hayley Wegener (Ferris State)
