Austen, a 5-foot-7 junior setter from Shelby, Ohio, led the Lady Cougars to a 4-1 record during the week as she averaged 10.62 assists, 1.81 digs, and 0.56 aces per set. In the team’s lone loss of the week at NAIA No. 25 Walsh University, the former Shelby High School star handed out 29 assists. Then, in four matches in the Papa John’s Invitational, Austen compiled 141 assists and 27 digs as she was named the Most Valuable Player of the five-team tournament that MVNU won. She also served up a career-high six aces in the win over Marian (Ind.) College.

On the season, Austen is averaging 10.10 assists, 1.93 digs, 0.33 blocks, and 0.30 aces per set. She has moved into fifth place on the Lady Cougars’ career assists list with 3,424 and counting.

MVNU is currently 24-7 overall and 6-3 in the AMC. The Lady Cougars will return to action on Friday and Saturday at the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Tournament hosted by Geneva (Pa.) College. On Friday, MVNU will face Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College at 6:00 p.m. followed by a match against Nyack (N.Y.) College at 8:00 p.m.