CLEVELAND – Western Michigan sophomore libero Elana Erickson has been named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. It marks the second time this season Erickson has earned the conference's top defensive honor.
 
Erickson totaled 74 digs (6.73 per set) and went a perfect 26-for-26 in serve receive to earn an All-Tournament Team spot over the weekend at the Kendall's Battle at the Capital Credit Union Classic. The sophomore opened the tournament with a career-high 34 digs in the five-set win over Green Bay, and followed that up with 23 digs the next day against Northern Iowa. She then closed out the weekend with 17 digs in Saturday's sweep of Tennessee Tech.
 
Through the first four weeks of the season, Erickson is atop the MAC in both total digs (235) and digs per set (4.90). The Grand Rapids, Mich., native's total digs are 10th-most in NCAA Division I, while her digs per set average ranks 20th nationally. With their libero leading the way, the Broncos lead the conference in both total digs (815) and digs per set (16.98), with the team's total digs currently sitting seventh in the nation and the digs per set ranking 10th.
 
Western Michigan returns to University Arena this Thursday and Friday to begin its Mid-American Conference schedule against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. First up is EMU on Thursday at 6 pm. For tickets to any WMU volleyball home match, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.