DALLAS – Middle Tennessee’s Adri Rhoda and Taylor Eisert who led the Blue Raiders to a perfect 2-0 week took home Offensive and Setter of the Week honors while FIU’s Syra Tanchin and UTEP’s Kalia Kohler were selected as Defensive and Freshman of the Week. The 2023 Volleyball Player of the Week awards are presented by Blenders Eyewear.
 
CUSA Offensive Player of the Week – Adri Rhoda, MTSU, So., Hutchinson, Minn.
Rhoda takes home her first Offensive Player of the Week honor after a 32 kill and undefeated week for the Blue Raiders. The sophomore outside hitter averaged 4.57 kills per set on a hitting clip of .387 while she set a new career-high 21 kills in their 3-1 victory over Liberty on Saturday. In Saturday’s match alone, Rhoda had a .432 hitting percentage and averaged 5.25 kills per set. Rhoda also added eight blocks during the week in seven sets.
 
CUSA Defensive Player of the Week – Syra Tanchin, FIU, Gr., St. Michael, Minn.
Tanchin was incredible behind the net as she helped FIU to their best CUSA start in program history (4-0). The graduate student from St. Michael, Minnesota finished with 37 digs in two sweeps over Sam Houston including a season-high 20 in the finale on Saturday. Tanchin averaged 6.17 digs per set as she is now second in during CUSA play after two weekends of action (5.08).
 
CUSA Setter of the Week – Taylor Eisert, MTSU, Sr., Louisville, Ky.
Eisert, now a three-time Setter of the Week honoree, totaled 73 assists over the weekend averaging 10.43 assists per set. The Louisville native added eight digs, four blocks and three service aces. Eisert leads Conference USA in assists per set and sits eighth nationally. After her 43 assists match on Saturday, it marks the eighth time this season she has tallied 40 or more assists in a match.
 
CUSA Freshman of the Week – Kalia Kohler, UTEP, Fr., Alpine, Utah
Kohler averaged 5.80 assists per set to help lead the Miners to two sweeps over Jacksonville State. She led UTEP with a total of 29 assists across the weekend and combined with Mattie Gantt for over 55 percent of assists in a 6-2 system. Kohler produced a .448 hitting clip and racked up one kill, three service aces and two digs in six sets.
 
2023 CUSA Offensive Players of the Week
A28        Paige Briggs, WKU
S4           Kamryn Bacus, Liberty
S11         Starr Williams, NM State
S18         Paige Briggs, WKU
S25         Kenadee Coyle, WKU
O2          Adri Rhoda, MTSU
 
2023 CUSA Defensive Players of the Week
A28        Darian Markham, NM State
S4           Madison Blane, Liberty
S11         Danika Washington, UTEP
S18         Darian Markham, NM State
S25         Mandi Morioka, FIU
O2          Syra Tanchin, FIU
 
2023 CUSA Setters of the Week
A28        Delaney Dilfer, Liberty
S4           Taylor Eisert, MTSU
S11         Taylor Eisert, MTSU
S18         Callie Bauer, WKU
S25         Ellie Garrett, Jax State
O2          Taylor Eisert, MTSU
 
2023 CUSA Freshmen of the Week
A28        Gianna Tagoa’i, FIU
S4           Gianna Tagoa’i, FIU
S11         Kalia Kohler, UTEP
S18         Gabby Weihe, WKU
S25         Hana Aiana, Jax State
O2          Kalia Kohler, UTEP