GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 1 of the 2026 volleyball season. Ferris State outside hitter Gabby Piazza was honored as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Parkside libero Natalie Harris earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition and Grand Valley State setter Gabby Orlet received GLIAC Setter of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gabby Piazza, Ferris State
Ferris State University junior outside hitter Gabby Piazza earned all-tournament team accolades in helping lead the 10th-ranked Bulldogs to a perfect 4-0 mark in their own home invitational over the weekend at Bulldog Arena. Piazza finished the weekend with a team-high 45 kills, averaging 3.75 kills per set, with a .333 hitting percentage. She also added 26 digs, five blocks and four aces while notching 2.17 digs and 0.42 blocks per frame. The Bulldogs did not drop a set all weekend in wins over defending national champion and third-ranked MSU Denver along with topping Illinois-Springfield, Emporia State and Minnesota State in the event.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Natalie Harris, Parkside
Parkside’s Natalie Harris has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week, earning the first weekly honor of the 2026 season following a standout performance at the BritKare/Lady Buff Invitational. Harris helped lead the Rangers to a 3-1 record on the weekend, including a five-set victory over No. 19 West Texas A&M. Across four matches, the senior libero totaled 104 digs, averaging 5.78 digs per set, which ranks first in the GLIAC and fifth among all NCAA Division II players. Harris also recorded 13 assists and four service aces. Harris opened the weekend with a career-high 36 digs in Parkside’s five-set victory over Adams State. She followed with 30 digs against No. 19 West Texas A&M, 10 against Tuskegee and 28 against (RV) Oklahoma Baptist.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Gabby Orlet, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State sophomore Gabby Orlet has been named GLIAC Setter of the Week for the opening week of action. Orlet orchestrated an offense that helped the Lakers go 3-1 at the Bentley Tournament, defeating three ranked teams. She totaled 172 assists, 43 digs, 14 kills, eight blocks, and five service aces. The sophomore recorded three double-doubles over the four games and set a new career-high with 50 assists, which she did three times. The tournament started with a 3-0 sweep of #22 Bentley, where Orlet dished out 22 assists and added 10 digs and two blocks. In the first game on Friday, she set her career-high with 50 assists, while also registering 15 digs in a win over sixth-ranked Barry. In the night game that same day, Orlet once again had 50 assists to help GVSU pick up a win over #18 Lynn. On Saturday, the setter recorded 50 assists for the third straight match, adding 12 digs and four blocks. This is the third GLIAC Setter of the Week honor in Orlet’s career, after receiving the honor twice as a freshman.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Alan Abby (Davenport), Finley Arp (Grand Valley State), Sierra Kilbourn (Parkside), Kaylie McIntosh (Northern Michigan), Jackie Scheiber (Saginaw Valley State), Katie Smith (Wayne State), Rachel Zurek (Michigan Tech)
Defense: Lexi Armstrong (Grand Valley State), McKenzie Bernard (Roosevelt), Hayley Carr (Davenport), Hope Davies (Ferris State), Liesl Haugen (Northern Michigan), Keeley Nellis (Michigan Tech), Marissa Roe (Saginaw Valley State), Katerina Stout (Wayne State)
Setter: Allie Barlow (Northern Michigan), Keira Dommer (Davenport), Kayla Dulgar (Wayne State), Madelynn Kreider (Michigan Tech), Lucy Russ (Parkside), Taylor Smith (Saginaw Valley State), Hayley Wegener (Ferris State)
