Jackie Williams

Springfield, Ohio — For the eighth time in school history, a Wittenberg volleyball player has earned Sports Imports/Division III National Player of the Week from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The latest honoree is outside hitter Jackie Williams, class of 2009 from Rocky River, Ohio, who earned the award on Sept. 10 after leading the Tigers to an undefeated weekend at the Washington University National Invitational.

The Tigers went a perfect 4-0 at Washington University, including three wins against teams ranked in the CSTV/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll. With Williams leading a potent offensive attack, Wittenberg is off to an 8-0 record in 2007. The Tigers, ranked No. 2 in the preseason top-25 poll before ascending to the No. 1 position today, have reached the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals each of the last two years.

In Wittenberg's first match at Washington University, Williams finished with 15 kills in 22 total attacks against no errors for a stellar .682 hitting percentage as the Tigers swept No. 12 Concordia (Minn.). She also added six digs and five blocks in the win. The nightcap on Friday was a 3-1 win over Central (Iowa), in which Williams put away 11 kills and added two digs and two total blocks.

On Saturday, the Tigers made two big statements, starting with a 3-1 win over the fourth-ranked host team, marking the first time Wittenberg has defeated 2006 national runner-up Washington University since 2002. Williams scored 16 kills in 32 attempts against only two errors for a .438 hitting percentage. She also chipped in four digs and four total blocks in the victory. Williams put the finishing touches on things with 14 kills and a .522 attack percentage in a sweep of No. 15 Ohio Northern, a perennial powerhouse in the Great Lakes Region.

Williams is a three-year starter for the Tigers, and she already ranks No. 1 in school history in attack percentage. Coming into the 2007 season, Williams had compiled 768 kills and a .364 attack percentage. She has added 80 kills on a blistering .482 attack percentage this year.

Wittenberg returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 12, at North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Kenyon. The Tigers then host the third annual Border Battle Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15. Inspired by the life of former Wittenberg women's basketball head coach and associate director of athletics Pam Smith, who died in June after a courageous 17-year battle with cancer, the team has also organized an all-day breast cancer awareness effort on Saturday.