Michigan State University Athletics
Garvelink Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
East Lansing, Michigan - Freshman Alyssa Garvelink (Holland, Michigan/Holland Christian) has been named the Big Ten Volleyball Freshman of the Week, as announced by the Conference office on Monday afternoon. It is the first weekly Conference honor of her career.
Garvelink had a week filled with career bests. At Northwestern last Wednesday, she had a season-high 11 blocks, and her four solo stuffs ranked third all-time at MSU in a four-set match. She just missed a double-double with nine kills, hitting .450 (9-0-20), adding an assist and a dig. At home against Rutgers on Saturday, Garvelink tied her career high with 12 kills (which she did earlier in the season against Michigan), hitting a scorching .667 on 15 swings. She added one block and a service ace.
On the season, Garvelink is averaging 1.97 kills and 1.0 blocks per set; in Big Ten matches only, she ranks 15th in the Conference with 1.06 blocks per set, while also contributing 2.14 kills per frame.
This is the second Freshman of the Week award for MSU this season. Setter Rachel Minarick earned the honor on Oct. 20, when she helped lead MSU to its first B1G weekend sweep of the season, posting 33 assists in each match on the road against Maryland and Rutgers.
MSU, now 16-13 overall and 9-9 in Big Ten play, has won three straight matches, and in two of them established new school records: fewest points allowed in a three-set match (34, vs. Indiana Nov. 15) and four-set match (64 vs. Northwestern, Nov. 19). The Spartans will host Purdue on Wednesday evening at Jenison Field House in a 6:30 start; MSU will honor its four seniors and retiring Associate Head Coach Russ Carney in a post-match ceremony.
