VB: Hitters prove worth across the board in key matches
BDN's Lauter, SSK's Koshinsky named CW Players of the Week
CALGARY - Brandon's Philipp Lauter and Saskatchewan's Emily Koshinsky were named the Canada West Volleyball Players of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.
Lauter helped his team turn a tight Eastern division on its head with two road wins this weekend. And he did it in style.
The middle hitter was everywhere, hitting the floor, looming large at the net, laying down key kills, and sailing in service aces.
Lauter posted 23 kills, three aces, six block assists, seven digs and 29 points in his team's first victory of the weekend over the then 6-6 Manitoba Bisons.
He then pushed the Bisons farther into the red while the Bobcats climbed to even Saturday. The first-year from Wiesbaden, Germany laid down another 19 kills, two aces, four blocks, six digs and 23.5 points in a four-set match.
Lauter worked with efficiency, converting swings at a rate of .356 per cent Friday and .586 per cent Saturday. The freshman has been posting similar numbers all season and currently sits second in Canada West in kill percentage at .374.
The two wins against the then higher-seeded Bisons bolster the Bobcats to second in the East as the season enters its homestretch.
Brandon (6-6) will be back in action Thursday and Saturday for a home-and-home with the Winnipeg Wesmen (8-6). The Bobcats will host the Wesmen Friday at 7:45 p.m. then travel to Winnipeg for a 5:00 p.m. first serve Saturday.
Game log:
Feb. 11: 23 kills, .356 K%, 3 SA, 6 BA, 7 digs, 29 points in 3-2 W at MAN
Feb. 12: 19 kills, .586 K%, 2 SA, 4 blocks, 6 digs, 23.5 points in 3-1 W at MAN
Meanwhile, a powerful hitter was doing everything she could to assert her team's dominance in the East.
Emily Koshinsky notched 15 kills in Saskatchewan's Friday sweep of the Regina Cougars. As big as she was on offensive, she loomed larger on defensive, putting up 17 digs on that end of the ball. The fifth-year outside hitter averaged better than an ace per set while posting 19.5 points.
Her Huskies made quick work of the Cougars Saturday as well, while Koshinsky laid down 10 kills, three blocks, seven digs and 12.5 points.
The Jansen, SK product ranks third in the conference in kills per set at 3.88.
The Huskies (12-2) are now off for a week before playing host to the Winnipeg Wesmen (6-6) on Feb. 25 and 26. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
Game log:
Feb. 11: 15 kills, .225 K%, 4 SA, 1 BA, 17 digs in 3-0 W vs REG
Feb. 12: 10 kills, .028 K%, 3 blocks, 7 digs, 12.5 points in 3-0 W vs REG