Player of the Week: September 14, 2015

Each week during the indoor and beach seasons, one player originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

2015 Week #3: Lauma Knupke

MidAmerica Nazarene University, Heart of America Conference.
Reported to subscribers in 2011 by AVSR Global.
Home:  Kuldiga, Latvia.
Senior, 6'0" Opposite and Outside Hitter.
See Lauma Knupke’s bio at the MNU website.

Last Week:

• Knupke hit .412 against two top-20 NAIA opponents, and perennial power MNU made its biggest statement of the year. The Pioneers beat No. 19 Hastings and lost to No. 4 Midland.
• MNU cruised past Baker, Concordia and Montana Western, climbing to a 10-6 mark.
• Knupke is hitting at a .269 rate this year as MNU aims for a fourth consecutive league title.
• Knupke’s hometown of Kuldiga, Latvia, has long been a volleyball hotbed. Janis Smedins, one of the world’s top men’s beach players, is from Kuldiga.

Excerpt from 2011 AVSR Global report:

“Intelligent, longtime player with a powerful body and a strong base of all-around skills and savvy. … Has played mostly middle, but she swings often from the left and right sides. … Sees the court clearly and plays with an easy demeanor.”  Video

Also Notable:

Jelena Cobanovic

George Mason University, Atlantic 10 Conference.
Reported to subscribers in 2012 by AVSR Global.
Home:  Novi Sad, Serbia.
Senior, 5'6" Libero.
Last Week:  Cobanovic tied a George Mason school record, scoring 32 digs in four sets to beat Central Connecticut. As a receiver she passed 56 serves with no errors in four matches.