Sept. 9, 2008

Bay City, Mich. - Sophomore middle blocker Rebeccah Rapin was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week on Monday (Sept. 8), as she helped lead the Lakers to a 3-1 weekend at the Regis Premier Challenge in Denver, Colo. It is the first such award for Rapin in her GVSU career.

Grand Valley State lost its first match of the weekend to #15 Augustana, and then rallied to win its final three matches, sweeping both #21 Chico State and #19 West Florida on Saturday. Rapin recorded 43 kills and a team-best .389 hitting percentage over the weekend. The sophomore totaled at least 10 kills in every match, including 11 finishers in each of the three victories. She also notched 12 block assists and 14 total blocks.

In a 3-1 win against Metro State, Rapin committed just one attack error, while piling up a .526 hitting percentage. On Saturday, the Lakers played their fourth and fifth nationally ranked opponents in the young season and Rapin's game rose to the occasion. She tallied consecutive 11 kill-two error performances, notching a .429 attack percentage against Chico State and a .500 clip in the win over West Florida.

Several Lakers competed for this award, as seniors Danielle Alexander (44 kills, .353 hitting percentage, 20 blocks), Jamie Ashmore (162 assists, 33 digs, six aces), and Lauren Reber (48 kills, 37 digs, 10 blocks) all had terrific weekends for GVSU.

Grand Valley State opens up the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday (Sept. 10) against Davenport University at 7:00 p.m. at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.