Groskreutz earns 3rd NSIC defensive honors for Bemidji State volleyball
Junior Brie Groskreutz (Reedsburg, Wis.), Bemidji State University outside hitter, has been named NSIC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week by the office of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The award is her second of the season and third of her career. She was honored by the league Aug. 31 of this year and Sept. 10, 2007. Groskreutz is the only Beaver to earn a conference player of the week award since four players won the award in 2004.
"Defense is her gift," said head coach Laurie Bitter. "Defense is our key this year and when she plays well it helps the confidence of our entire team. She's the quarterback of the back row and with her leadership and being the oldest player on the team it's good to see her get that recognition."
Groskreutz led the Beavers in digs in the two losses to No. 14 Minnesota State University, Mankato and No. t-16 Southwest Minnesota State University last weekend. She posted 30 digs (5.00 d/s) in the two matches lifting her career total to 1,249, which moved her to sixth on BSU's career digs chart (since 1980). She had a .930 serve reception percentage with 43 total attempts and three errors.
She has 406 digs in 2009, just six shy of cracking BSU's top-10 single season digs chart (from 1984-present). Groskreutz has two 30-plus dig performances this season, including 33 in a five-set loss to then-No. 12 SMSU on Sept. 11, which tied her career-high. She is fifth in the NSIC in digs per set at a 4.51 clip.
The Beavers (9-17, 6-9 NSIC) rank 43rd in digs per set (16.41 d/s) in the nation, as of Oct. 25, according to the NCAA national ranking summary. The national leader is Northwest Nazarene with a 19.14 d/s clip. BSU currently sits sixth in the NSIC in digs (16.43 d/s).
"Defense wins matches," Groskreutz said. "Now that I'm at the libero position, I'm finally getting into the swing of things after starting the season as an outside hitter. It's an awesome honor (to be on the career charts). It's something to keep reaching for."