FARMINGTON, Utah (September 30, 2019) – Following a monumental 13-block performance last Thursday versus Weber State as part of a dominant weekend showing, Northern Arizona volleyball senior
Abby Akin was named the Big Sky's Defensive Player of the Week. Akin earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor for the fifth time in her career and her seventh weekly award overall.
Akin averaged 2.25 blocks per set and totaled 18 blocks in NAU's 2-0 conference opening weekend versus Weber State and Idaho State. Her efforts helped the Lumberjacks limit the Wildcats and Bengals to a combined .120 hitting percentage in a pair of four-set victories last week at home.
In Thursday's Big Sky opener versus Weber State – the preseason No. 2 team in the league – Akin became the first Lumberjack in nearly 28 years to register 13 blocks in a match. Her 13 blocks tied for the third-highest single match total in program history and tied for the most in a four-set match by an NAU player.
Akin followed up with five blocks against Idaho State on Saturday, including her final block on match point to clinch NAU's second win of the weekend.
For the season, Akin is second in the league with 1.57 blocks per set.
The Lumberjacks will face Portland State at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the first of two road matches this week.
