MADISON, S.D. -- Bellevue University volleyball student-athletes Taylor Holz and Maddie Squiers became the first Bruins to feature in the North Star Athletic Association's weekly award program in 2016-17.
Holz, a junior libero, was named the conference's Defender of the Week. Holz wins the honor for the third time in her career, also being named the NSAA's Defender of the Week on Sept. 21 and Oct. 19 of last year. She tallied double-digit digs in each of Bellevue's four matches at the Red Raider Classic. She had a week-high 25 digs against Briar Cliff and followed that up with 22 digs in the Bruins' win over #24 Northwestern. Holz averaged 4.2 digs per set over the weekend and added a pair of service aces. She posted a reception rate of 96.7 percent and a service percentage of 93.9 percent.
Squiers, a freshman setter, was named the conference's Setter of the Week. The award is the first such honor of Squiers' career. In four matches at the Red Raider Classic, she totaled 159 assists and notched a pair of double-doubles in Bellevue's Saturday matches against Briar Cliff (54 assists, 14 digs) and #24 Northwestern (36 assists, 12 digs). She averaged 9.4 assists and 2.4 digs per set during the tournament while adding seven service aces, a block solo, and nine block assists.
Bellevue went 2-2 at the Red Raider Classic over the weekend and currently stand at 4-4 overall.
BU will play their first home matches of the 2016 campaign this weekend when they host the annual Premier Labor Day Classic. Bellevue plays Cornerstone on Court 1 of the Lied Center (2700 Arboretum Road, Bellevue, Neb.) at 1 p.m. on Friday and hosts Rocky Mountain at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center at 5:30 p.m.
