COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Kelsey Gray caught the attention of the conference and revealed why she is the best blocker in the Ohio Valley Conference when she turned in a 2.54 block per set performance over the weekend. Gray's spectacular play at the net snagged the senior Defensive Player of the Week honors.

This marks the first time Gray, a 6-2 middle blocker, has earned adidas® OVC Defensive Player of the Week this season, but the second time she has been honored in her four-year career. Gray previously won the award her sophomore season after posting 10 blocks against Jacksonville State (10/15/2010).

For the weekend, the Golden Eagles registered 25 team blocks with Gray having a hand in 18 of them. Against undefeated Morehead State, Gray was a part of every Tech block. She had a career-high 10 block assists and a season-high 11 total blocks versus Eastern Kentucky. Gray averaged 2.54 blocks per set, and to put in perspective the greatness of her performance, the best blocker in Division I is currently averaging 1.74 blocks per set.

Gray is currently ranked first in the OVC with 1.54 blocks per set, placing her 10th in Division I, ahead of perennial powerhouses such as Stanford, Texas and Penn State.

Jen Myer of Belmont won OVC Offensive Player of the Week and Belmont's Hannah Miranda won OVC Setter of the Week. Players of the Week are nominated and voted on by the Sports Information Directors of each institution.

Offensive:
Jen Myer, OPP, 5'9, Jr., New Braunfels, Texas - Belmont
Myer led the Bruins with 37 kills as they went 2-0 last week. She averaged 5.29 kills per set over the two matches. She also recorded fi ve blocks and 18 digs. Myer leads the team with 223 kills so far this season.

Others Nominated: Nikki Doyle, Austin Peay; Reynae Hutchinson, Eastern Illinois; Emily Rutherford, Jacksonville State; Eillie Roberson, Morehead State; Brittney Kalinoski, Southeast Missouri; Naomi Wells, Tennessee State; Shelby Hoskins, UT Martin.
 

Defensive
Kelsey Gray, MB, Sr., 6'2, Newark, Ohio - Tennessee Tech
Gray had a career-high 10 block assists and a season-high 11 total blocks versus Eastern Kentucky. For the weekend, the Golden Eagles registered 25 blocks with Gray having a hand in 18 of them. She was a part of every Tech block against Morehead State.

Others Nominated: Kelsey Anderson, Jacksonville State; Leslie Schellhaas, Morehead State; Berkley Idel, Southeast Missouri; Britani Hathorn, Tennessee State; Kasey Elswick, UT Martin

Setters:
Hannah Miranda, S, 5'8, Jr., Covington, La. - Belmont
Miranda dished out 96 assists last week, helping the Bruins record a .242 team hitting percentage. She also had six kills, 19 digs and two aces as Belmont went 2-0.

Others Nominated: Cami Fields, Austin Peay; Marah Bradbury, Eastern Illinois; Alina Agamy,
Jacksonville State; Cailtin Clark, Morehead State; Julie Shives, Southeast Missouri; Erika Moss, TennesseeState; Amanda Crask, UT Martin