OGDEN, Utah – Senior Janae Vander Ploeg had one of the finest matches of her career on Saturday in Northern Arizona volleyball's biggest match to date this season, and for the second time this fall she was named the Big Sky's Player of the Week Monday morning. Vander Ploeg shared the honor as Co-Player of the Week earlier this season on Sept. 7, and it is her third career weekly honor.

Vander Ploeg totaled 41 kills and 20 digs along with five blocks all while hitting .351 in the NAU's weekend wins versus Weber State and Idaho State. Her averages across eight sets were an impressive 5.12 kills, 2.50 digs and 0.62 blocks per set to close out the first half of conference play.

In Saturday's Big Sky South Division showdown versus previously unbeaten Idaho State, Vander Ploeg recorded 24 kills, her second highest total of the season, and only committed one error in 49 swings. She hit .469, which would have been a career-high if not for her .542 performance at Montana State the week prior, as she was a force to be reckoned with. Vander Ploeg recorded at least six kills in all three sets that NAU won, including eight in the crucial third set with the match tied at 1-1. Vander Ploeg also recorded her team-best 11th double-double in the win with 12 digs, leading NAU's charge to a tie atop the South standings.

To open the week, the senior outside hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo. hammered down a match-high 17 kills against Weber State along with eight digs and three blocks. She had six of her 17 kills in the second set to even the match at a set apiece after Weber State took the opener, and totaled five kills in the clinching fourth set.

Vander Ploeg continues to pace the Big Sky in kills per set at 4.97 and points per set at 5.34 in conference play. Her overall season averages of 4.65 kills and 5.34 points also lead all players. Vander Ploeg, who moved into second all-time on NAU's career kills chart in Saturday's victory against Idaho State, ranks in the top 10 nationally this season in total kills, kills per set, points, points per set, attacks and attacks per set.

The Lumberjacks, at 17-4 overall and 7-1 in Big Sky, are currently tied for first in the South Division with Idaho State. The North Division leader Eastern Washington is also at 7-1 at the halfway point of conference.

NAU wraps up its season-long homestand this week versus North Dakota and Northern Colorado on Thursday and Saturday respectively. First serve on Thursday is 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center.