The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 5 of the 2026 volleyball season. Michigan Tech outside hitter Zurek was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Parkside libero Natalie Harris was selected as GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Northern Michigan setter Allie Barlow was recognized as GLIAC Setter of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rachel Zurek, Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech senior outside hitter Rachel Zurek averaged 5.25 kills per set while hitting .362 in a pair of matches last week. She tallied 24 kills and hit .340 at Northern Michigan on Tuesday and added 18 kills while hitting .390 in a sweep at Wayne State on Friday. Zurek leads the GLIAC with 244 kills and ranks second in kills per set, averaging 4.28.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Natalie Harris, Parkside
Parkside volleyball's Natalie Harris has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. Harris recorded 56 digs across Parkside's two matches against Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley State this past weekend. Through eight sets, Harris averaged 7.00 digs per set. Harris also recorded one service ace and was perfect in reception, successfully handling all 28 of her attempts. Harris continues to lead the GLIAC in both total digs and digs per set, recording 296 digs and averaging 5.58 digs per set this season. Nationally, Harris ranks eighth in digs per set and 15th in total digs. In addition to her defensive efforts, Harris has recorded 46 assists and 12 service aces on the season.The honor marks the ninth GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor of Harris' career. Harris has also earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in both 2024 and 2025.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Allie Barlow, Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan’s Allie Barlow has been selected as the GLIAC Setter of the Week. The senior totaled a season-high 61 assists in Northern’s five-set victory over the Huskies on Tuesday. She added another 31 assists vs. Grand Valley State on Saturday. Barlow also recorded 23 digs over the week, reaching double digits in each match. Over the two contests, Barlow added five kills, two service aces, and two blocks. She recently surpassed 3,000 career assists, becoming just the eighth player in Northern Michigan history to reach that milestone. The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is second in the conference with 556 assists and 10.3 assists per set this season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Kaylie McIntosh (Northern Michigan), Gabby Piazza (Ferris State), Avary Polavin (Parkside), Paige Sanders (Grand Valley State), Katie Smith (Wayne State), Rachel Townsend (Saginaw Valley State), Savanah Weathers (Davenport)
Defense: Kennedy Arp (Grand Valley State), Giselle Burlingame (Wayne State), Hayley Carr (Davenport), Hope Davies (Ferris State), Liesl Haugen (Northern Michigan), Marissa Roe (Saginaw Valley State)
Setter: Keira Dommer (Davenport), Kayla Dulgar (Wayne State), Madelynn Kreider (Michigan Tech), Gabby Orlet (Grand Valley State), Lucy Russ (Parkside), Taylor Smith (Saginaw Valley State), Hayley Wegener (Ferris State)
