![Abby Van Deventer](https://www.wjbc.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/389/2015/09/Van-Deventer.jpg)
By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Illinois State soccer defensive back Abby Van Deventer has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the conference Tuesday.
The award is Van Deventer’s first of the season and the sixth of her career.
Van Deventer and the ISU defense were rock solid last weekend, allowing just one goal in 215 minutes of play. Van Deventer, one of ISU’s center backs, was especially sharp. In Sunday’s win over Central Michigan she continually won balls out of the air to clear out any scoring threat. Friday against Western Michigan, she did not allow the Broncos to take a shot in the two overtime periods.
This is the second player of the week award that the Redbirds have earned this season. ISU will open Valley play Saturday against Drake at Adelaide Street Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.