RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the volleyball players of the week for the opening weekend of the 2023 season. Southwestern Oklahoma State's Lacy Mott claimed the Offensive award, Harding's Emma Winiger earned the Defensive accolade and Southern Nazarene's Kaley Brubaker won the Setter honor.

#theGAC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Lacy Mott, OH, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Jr., Waxahachie, Texas
Mott helped the Bulldogs post a 3-1 record at the Midwestern State Classic as she averaged 3.94 kills per set while producing a .293 attack percentage. She tallied 19 kills, on a .531 attack percentage, with 12 digs against Western Colorado followed by 21 kills and 13 digs against Central Oklahoma.

#theGAC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Emma Winiger, DS, Harding, Gr., Dallas, Texas
Winiger and the Lady Bisons opened the season with a 4-0 weekend at the Patriot Classic. Harding did not drop a set in the four contests. She led the conference by averaging 5.06 digs per set. Her 18 digs against St. Edward's represented her high for the event. She added eight service aces across the four wins.

#theGAC VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK – Kaley Brubaker, S, Southern Nazarene, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas
Brubaker garnered a spot on the Patriot Classic All-Tournament Team as the Crimson Storm opened the season with a 3-1 record. In a sweep of Union, she tallied 33 assists and seven digs. She followed up with 38 assists and 14 digs against UT Tyler. She totaled 32 assists and 31 digs in a five-set win against St. Edward's. She finished with 35 assists against Fort Lewis College.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Sunny Batschelett, OPP (Southern Nazarene), Riley Braziel, OH (Ouachita Baptist), Odalys Gonzalez, OH (East Central), Jacey Lambert, MB (Harding), D'Nari Mills, OH (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Violeta Mendoza Quintana, OH (Henderson State), Erika Asencio Soriano, OH (Northwestern Oklahoma State)

Riley Braziel, OH (Ouachita Baptist), Brianda Diaz, DS (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Samantha Kuzma, MH (Southwestern Oklahoma State)

Ruthie Forson, S (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Courtney Hanson, S (Ouachita Baptist), Madison Hatt, S (Henderson State), Cameron Lobb, S (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Morgan Schuster, S (Southern Arkansas)