Monday, September 19, 2011

Freshman middle hitter Morgan Beil (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) has been named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday morning.  It marks the first career weekly honor from the league office for the freshman.

Beil earns the honor from the league office after averaging three kills per set on .403 hitting over Valpo’s four matches last week.  She started the week with a standout performance in the league opener, registering a match-best 12 kills on just 16 swings against UIC while committing only one attack error, good for a .688 hitting percentage, the best single-match performance by a Horizon League athlete in the first week of league action.  It also was the best hitting percentage by a Crusader in a match (minimum 10 kills) since Nicole Schulz hit .739 against UIC on Sept. 21, 2007.

Beil continued her string of standout performances at the DePaul Invitational, eventually earning All-Tournament Team honors for the second straight weekend.  Playing just one set against the host Blue Demons on Friday, Beil chipped in three kills on four attacks.  Facing a strong Kansas defense the next day, the freshman posted a career-best 13 kills, while also contributing six digs and five blocks.  Then, in the tournament finale against San Diego State, Beil tied for team-high honors with eight kills on .375 hitting to go along with three blocks.

Beil and the rest of the Crusaders start a month-long stretch of Horizon League matches this weekend on the road.  Valpo travels to Green Bay Friday night before taking on Loyola Saturday afternoon.