Nov. 3, 2009

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - On the heels of leading their team to a five-set victory over Utah Valley last Saturday, North Dakota's duo of Erin Joki and Lindsay Vortherms have been named Great West Conference Volleyball Players of the Week. The awards were announced Tuesday by the league office.

Joki, a junior from Grand Rapids, Minn., recorded a career-high 14 kills in UND's biggest match of the season as the Sioux gained sole possession of the top spot in the Great West standings. Her 14th and final kill was the match-winner as it provided the Sioux with a 15-13 victory in the fifth set. Joki posted a .400 attack percentage (14k-2e-30a) and equaled her season-high with five digs.

In the crucial match, the GWC's top two attackers -- Utah Valley's Kayli Broadbent and UND's Devin Trefz -- more or less cancelled each other out as the Wolverine outside hitter finished with a match-high 22 kills, while the Sioux sophomore had 20. But it was Joki who most credited with being the difference in the match.

"Watching Broadbent and Devin go back-and-forth was exciting to watch, but Erin was fantastic offensively the entire match," UND coach Ashley Hardee said. "To have an attack percentage that high on 30 swings was phenomenal. She was the difference, and it was fitting for her to put that last one away and give us the victory."

Vortherms won the weekly defensive honor after posting 27 digs against UVU. The senior libero from Windom, Minn., led a defense that established a season-high 97 digs in the match and held the Wolverines to a .182 attack percentage. She also added a career-high four service aces.

Others nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Ligia Clemente (HBU), Kristen Kritenbrink (South Dakota), Rita Gonzalez (UTPA) and Broadbent (Utah Valley).

Defensive nominees included Courtney Whittleman (HBU), Mallory Mork (South Dakota), Rebecca Toddy (UTPA) and Allyce Jones (Utah Valley).