Rachel Widener, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's volleyball team, has been selected as the American Mideast Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for her efforts in matches played during the week of October 19-25.
Widener, a 5-foot-9 junior outside hitter from Elyria, Ohio, averaged 3.27 kills and 3.73 digs during MVNC's 5-0 week which included winning the 1998 National Christian College Athletic Association East Region championship. The former Open Door Christian School star also posted a .417 attack percentage and a 97.6 serving percentage.
Widener, who was named to the NCCAA All-East Region Team for the third straight year, pounded a season-high 19 kills and led the team with 25 digs as the Lady Cougars rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat host Malone College in five games in the region tournament. She also added 14 kills and 19 digs in a conference victory over Ohio Dominican College.
For the season, Widener leads MVNC in digs per game (3.64) and ranks ninth in the AMC in that category. She is second on the team with a .315 attack percentage that places her eighth in the conference. In addition, she has compiled 32 aces, 36 assists, 65 blocks, and 281 kills.
The Lady Cougars are currently 40-2 overall and tied for first place in the AMC with a 12-1 mark. After hosting the University of Rio Grande on Tuesday evening, MVNC will host Walsh University on Thursday evening in a battle between the top two teams in the conference.
