Player of the Week: October 21, 2019

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

Fall 2019 Week #8: Velina Minkova

University of Illinois-Chicago.

Horizon League, NCAA Division I.

Reported by AVSR Global to subscribers in 2017.

Sophomore. 5'9" Libero.

Home: Sofia, Bulgaria.

See Velina Minkova’s bio at the UIC website.

Last Week:

• Minkova started the week by winning Player of the Week honors in the Horizon League. Then she paced UIC to two more league wins.
• Minkova collected 37 digs as the Flames defeated Northern Kentucky 3-2 and IUPUI 3-1. She’s averaging 4.2 digs per set this season.
• UIC climbed to its best season record since 1986. The Flames are 16-6. They stand at third place in the Horizon League with a 5-3 mark.
• Before Minkova arrived in Chicago, she played outside hitter for club teams while playing libero for Bulgaria’s junior national team. The team placed eighth at the 2017 Under-20 World Championship in Mexico.

Excerpt from 2017 AVSR Global report:

“A complete, savvy player and multi-purpose recruit. … Ready to play libero in high-Division I or outside hitter at a lower level. … Superior vision and reactions. She sees the game with clarity and confidence.”