Lock Haven's Xuan Gao (left) and California's Joanna Nist (right)
Women's Volleyball PSAC Athlete of the Week - 4
California’s Joanna Nist and Lock Haven’s Xuan Gao are the PSAC Athletes of the Week in Women’s Volleyball following their outstanding offensive efforts during the PSAC crossover weekend.
Western Division
Joanna Nist – California
Senior/Outside Hitter
Rockwood, Pa/Rockwood
Nist led the Vulcans to a 4-0 record during PSAC crossover play, defeating East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg, Lock Haven and Millersville. She averaged 3.38 kills and 4.00 digs per set and remained an offensive threat throughout each match as she totaled a .337 hitting percentage with 44 kills.
Most impressively, she collected three kill/dig double-doubles. In the 3-0 win over East Stroudsburg, she totaled 11 kills, 14 digs and a .579 hitting percentage. Nist then posted 18 kills and 14 digs in 3-2 victory over Lock Haven. On Saturday, she collected 11 kills and 17 digs in the victory over Millersville and added four kills and seven digs in limited play as California shutout Shippensburg.
Eastern Division
Xuan Gao - Lock Haven
Freshmen/Outside Hitter
Dong Ding, China
Xuan registered another impressive performance during PSAC crossover play. The Lady Eagles went 0-2 after day one, but then Xuan let the offensive attack in the last two matches, helping her squad finish 2-2 over the weekend. Xuan recorded a team-high 53 kills, averaging 3.31 per set and 13.3 per match. In the victories on Saturday, she led her team with 12 kills and a hitting percentage of .455 against Slipper Rock, and registered 18 digs, hit .631 with no errors and again totaled 12 kills against IUP. In all four matches she totaled at least 12 kills. For the week she had 58 digs, 10 aces and had a high of 17 kills against defending NCAA Atlantic Region Champion California.