ISU’s Pence named MVC Defensive Player of the Week for record 9th time

Posted on October 31, 2017

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State libero Courtney Pence has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, the league announced Monday.

The honor is the ninth of Pence’s career, matching the Valley record for defensive player of the week accolades.

Pence’s ninth weekly award matches the amount won by Northern Iowa’s Ellie Blankeship, who earned the accolades between 2007-10.

A junior from Springfield, Ill., Pence earned the honor Monday after two stellar performances over the weekend. Pence played a key role in helping Illinois State to its first win over a Top 25 team in nearly 14 years on Friday, tallying a match-high 37 digs in the Redbirds’ five-set win over No. 25 Northern Iowa. On Saturday, Pence registered 29 digs in a three-set match, with double-digit digs in the second and third sets, respectively. For the weekend, she averaged 8.25 digs per set, while adding seven assists and one service ace.

Pence currently leads the NCAA in total digs (625) while ranking second among all Division I players in digs per set (6.25).

Pence earned MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice as a freshman in 2015 and three times as a sophomore in 2016.

Illinois State (15-11, 8-5 MVC) is back in action this weekend with matches at Valparaiso and Loyola Chicago.

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