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Women's Volleyball NWC Athletic Communications

Metzger Selected as NAIA Defensive Player of the Week

Metzger’s big blocking weekend lands national honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The accolades continue to roll in for sophomore middle hitter Zavyr Metzger and the No. 3-ranked and undefeated Northwestern College volleyball team (9-0, 1-0 GPAC) as Metzger has been tabbed the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced today.
 
The national honor comes on the heels of her Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Defensive Player of the Week honors, the first of her career. The national honor as well is the first of the sophomore's career.  
On the week, Metzger (So., Larchwood, Iowa) recorded 29 blocks in Northwestern's five matches, including eight solo blocks. It boiled down to being nearly two blocks per set (1.93 blocks per set). Her efforts helped the Red Raiders remain unbeaten on the season and winning 27-straight sets to start the season. In the win over (6) Park, she notched a career-high 10 blocks.
 
The Red Raiders picked up four wins at the 2023 College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic with wins over Kansas Wesleyan, No. 6-ranked Park, (RV) Providence (Mont.), and (RV) The Master's (Calif.) – all coming in straight sets. Northwestern began the GPAC schedule last Wednesday with a 3-0 sweep of Briar Cliff inside the Bultman Center.
 
For the season, the sophomore is one of two Raiders to average over one block per set at 1.96. She leads the team in blocks per set, total blocks (53), and solo blocks (13). She enters the new week currently leading the GPAC in blocks per set and total blocks.
 
Nationally, her blocks per set mark (1.96) sits second and her 53 total blocks sits in a two-way tie for third in the NAIA.  
The GPAC had two volleyball athletes earn national awards this week as Concordia's Bree Burtwistle won national Setter of the Week accolades. Columbia International's Kira Rymer Attaway garnered NAIA Attacker of the Week honors.
 
Metzger is the first Red Raider to earn NAIA Player of the Week honors since last season when Olivia Granstra (Jr., Sheldon, Iowa) also won national Defender of the Week honors on November 1, 2022.

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Players Mentioned

Olivia Granstra

#4 Olivia Granstra

DS
5' 7"
Junior
Zavyr Metzger

#10 Zavyr Metzger

MH
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Olivia Granstra

#4 Olivia Granstra

5' 7"
Junior
DS
Zavyr Metzger

#10 Zavyr Metzger

6' 1"
Sophomore
MH