OGDEN, Utah – Janae Vander Ploeg enjoyed a milestone weekend and was rewarded with a Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honor announced by the conference office on Monday. Vander Ploeg joined the Northern Arizona volleyball's 1,000 career kills club and recorded two double-doubles in guiding the Lumberjacks to victories over Eastern Washington and Southern Utah.

"I couldn't be more impressed with Janae right now," said head coach Ken Murphy. "As strong of a season she's had so far, she's constantly worked at raising her standard even higher. The last two weeks, her hard work has shown and it's great to see the conference recognize the hard work she has put in."

Vander Ploeg continued her strong play of late averaging a team-best 3.86 kills and 3.71 digs per set and committing just five errors on 74 swings to hit .297. She became only the 12th Lumberjack in school history to reach 1,000 career kills last Thursday as she helped NAU clinch a spot in the Big Sky Championships with its win over Eastern Washington. Vander Ploeg recorded her milestone kill on her 13th and final kill of the winning fourth set, as she helped contribute to NAU's season-best .606 hitting percentage (20-0-33) in the set. She also tied for the team-high with 13 digs and added two blocks in the win.

The junior from Colorado Springs, Colo. followed that up with a 14-kill, 13-dig performance in NAU's sweep of Southern Utah on Saturday. Vander Ploeg did not commit a single error in the victory, hitting a match-best .412. She would end the match with kills on the final three points to seal up NAU's seventh three-set sweep at home this season.

Her two double-doubles last weekend brought her season total to a team-high 13 and she has now recorded double-doubles in four of her last five matches. She totaled 27 kills, 26 digs, four assists, two blocks and an ace over the weekend.

The Big Sky Player of the Week award is the first of Vander Ploeg's career. She is the third Lumberjack to win the award this season joining sophomore Jensen Barton and senior Sydney Kemper.

The 'Jacks wrap up the regular season this weekend at Sacramento State and Portland State this Thursday and Saturday.