Temple University Athletics
Elyse Burkert
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Elyse Burkert Named Atlantic 10 Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
9.10.12 | Women's Volleyball
Burkert earns the first such honor of her career after an impressive three matches this past weekend
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10 Conference has named Temple junior Elyse Burkert its Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week. Joining Burkert in receiving weekly awards are Butler junior Claire Randich (Defensive Player of the Week) and VCU freshman Martina Samadan (Rookie of the Week honors). The league announced the three awards Monday for matches played Sept. 4-9.
"Elyse did a great job for us this weekend, not just offensively but also defensively," said Temple head coach Bakeer Ganes. "It's not easy for her because she's a major part of our offense, so she gets double-blocked (by the opposing team) a lot, but still finds ways to score. That's probably the biggest improvement she made from last year, and it's a testimony to the hard work she put in during the summer and in preseason. I'm really happy for her and proud that she received this honor."
Burkert, an outside hitter, was named to the Miami (Ohio) Invitational All-Tournament Team after helping TU to a 2-1 week. The Richardson, Texas, native recorded two double-doubles in a pair of wins for the Owls, and was just shy of a third. She averaged 5.27 kills per set, including a 23-kill performance against Miami and a 19-kill outing in the win over Indiana State.
Burkert hit .293 for the week, including an impressive .556 in a sweep of Chicago State with a match-high 16 kills and only one error. Her double-doubles came against Chicago State and Indiana State, recording 11 digs in each match. She also had five assists against Miami and three aces and two blocks for the week.
Randich, a Joliet, Ill., native, earned All-Tournament honors at the Butler Classic, leading the Bulldogs to a 3-1 finish. She averaged 1.81 blocks per set, recording 29 total blocks in the four matches. Twice she totaled nine blocks, including two solos and seven assists in wins over IUPUI and Indiana. She added six blocks against Western Illinois and five in a loss to Stephen F. Austin. The middle blocker also had nine digs and three aces and averaged 2.19 kills per game.
A middle blocker, Samadan was named to the VCU/Third Degree Sportswear Invitational All-Tournament Team after helping VCU to a 4-0 week. She averaged 2.58 kills, tallying double digit kills three times in four matches. She hit over .300 in three of the four matches, including .588 versus Middle Tennessee. The Split, Croatia, native also had an impressive 1.05 blocks per set, with seven against Virginia and six each versus Appalachian State and Georgetown. Samadan also added 13 digs, three aces and three assists to her weekly performance. A previous Defensive Player of the Week selection, she has been named all-tournament at each of the Rams' three tournaments this season.
Temple volleyball will be back in action when the Owls play their first home match of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 12 against NJIT at 6:00 p.m.
"Elyse did a great job for us this weekend, not just offensively but also defensively," said Temple head coach Bakeer Ganes. "It's not easy for her because she's a major part of our offense, so she gets double-blocked (by the opposing team) a lot, but still finds ways to score. That's probably the biggest improvement she made from last year, and it's a testimony to the hard work she put in during the summer and in preseason. I'm really happy for her and proud that she received this honor."
Burkert, an outside hitter, was named to the Miami (Ohio) Invitational All-Tournament Team after helping TU to a 2-1 week. The Richardson, Texas, native recorded two double-doubles in a pair of wins for the Owls, and was just shy of a third. She averaged 5.27 kills per set, including a 23-kill performance against Miami and a 19-kill outing in the win over Indiana State.
Burkert hit .293 for the week, including an impressive .556 in a sweep of Chicago State with a match-high 16 kills and only one error. Her double-doubles came against Chicago State and Indiana State, recording 11 digs in each match. She also had five assists against Miami and three aces and two blocks for the week.
Randich, a Joliet, Ill., native, earned All-Tournament honors at the Butler Classic, leading the Bulldogs to a 3-1 finish. She averaged 1.81 blocks per set, recording 29 total blocks in the four matches. Twice she totaled nine blocks, including two solos and seven assists in wins over IUPUI and Indiana. She added six blocks against Western Illinois and five in a loss to Stephen F. Austin. The middle blocker also had nine digs and three aces and averaged 2.19 kills per game.
A middle blocker, Samadan was named to the VCU/Third Degree Sportswear Invitational All-Tournament Team after helping VCU to a 4-0 week. She averaged 2.58 kills, tallying double digit kills three times in four matches. She hit over .300 in three of the four matches, including .588 versus Middle Tennessee. The Split, Croatia, native also had an impressive 1.05 blocks per set, with seven against Virginia and six each versus Appalachian State and Georgetown. Samadan also added 13 digs, three aces and three assists to her weekly performance. A previous Defensive Player of the Week selection, she has been named all-tournament at each of the Rams' three tournaments this season.
Temple volleyball will be back in action when the Owls play their first home match of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 12 against NJIT at 6:00 p.m.
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