The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 2 of the 2026 volleyball season. Ferris State outside hitter Gabby Piazza was selected GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Parkside libero Natalie Harris was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Saginaw Valley State setter Taylor Smith received GLIAC Setter of the Week recognition.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gabby Piazza, Ferris State
Ferris State University junior outside hitter Gabby Piazza had a big weekend as FSU claimed the 2026 Colorado Premier Challenge against some of the nation’s top competition in Denver, Colo. Piazza was tabbed as the tournament MVP as FSU went 4-0 and improved to 8-0 overall while vaulting to the top of the national rankings this week. She finished the weekend with 70 kills, totaling 5.83 kills per set, and compiled a .366 attack percentage to go with 25 digs, eight blocks and three service aces. She compiled 78.0 points for an average of 6.50 points per set. Ferris State did not drop a set all weekend and beat three nationally-ranked teams over the weekend, including two of the country’s top 14 squads.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Natalie Harris, Parkside
Parkside volleyball senior libero Natalie Harris has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week following her standout performance at the Hampton Inn Invitational. Harris anchored the Rangers' defense throughout the weekend, recording 64 digs across 11 sets while averaging 5.82 digs per set. She also posted a .983 reception percentage, committing just one reception error on 60 attempts. Harris added seven assists and one service ace while helping Parkside earn three victories during the tournament. Harris has continued her dominant defensive play throughout the 2026 season, leading the GLIAC with 168 digs and ranking eighth nationally in NCAA Division II. Her 5.79 digs per set also lead the conference and rank seventh in the nation. Harris has added five service aces and 20 assists on the season, continuing to serve as a key defensive anchor for the Rangers.
SETTER OF THE WEEK: Taylor Smith, Saginaw Valley State
Saginaw Valley State University volleyball’s Taylor Smith has been named the GLIAC Setter of the Week. Smith ran the offense with 148 assists on 399 total attempts with an assist percentage of .371. She tallied 13 kills with a hitting percentage of .306 and had 24 digs and 11 blocks as well over the 4-0 weekend. The Cardinals are 6-2 with their best start since 2021 after sweeping their four matches at the Grand Rapids Downtown Classic. The six-win mark also matches the number of wins from the 2024 season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Abby Alan (Davenport), Saige Martin (Wayne State), Avary Polavin (Parkside), Elisa Rizzoli (Lake Superior State), Laynie Russell (Northern Michigan), Paige Sanders (Grand Valley State), Rachel Townsend (Saginaw Valley State), Abigail Wutka (Roosevelt), Rachel Zurek (Michigan Tech)
Defense: McKenzie Bernard (Roosevelt), Hope Davies (Ferris State), Ava Decker (Saginaw Valley State), Keeley Nellis (Michigan Tech), Elisa Rizzoli (Lake Superior State), Paige Sanders (Grand Valley State), Katerina Stout (Wayne State), Amelia Werner (Davenport)
Setter: Allie Barlow (Northern Michigan), Keira Dommer (Davenport), Kayla Dulgar (Wayne State), Madelynn Kreider (Michigan Tech), Gabby Orlet (Grand Valley State), Lucy Russ (Parkside), Hayley Wegener (Ferris State)
