TCC's Skykes, SXU's LeBel, Martinez Earn Women's Volleyball Weekly Recognition

CHICAGO --- Trinity Christian College's Sharide Sykes (McDonough, Ga.) has claimed back-to-back Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Setter of the Week awards, with Saint Xavier University's Connie LeBel (Crestwood, Ill.) and Avanna Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) gaining the other two weekly women's volleyball awards for the seven-day period ending Sept. 22, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Sykes registered 33 assists in her lone match of the week, a three-set victory over Governors State University last Tuesday.  The junior also attacked at a .400 clip with eight kills against two errors in 15 chances.  Her other numbers included five digs and one block assist.

Trinity Christian is 2-2 in league play and 3-12 overall on the season.

LeBel came away with CCAC Attacker of the Week recognition after averaging 3.78 kills per set over her two matches played.  She also just missed recording a pair of double-doubles with her 1.89 digs-per-set average, while totaling five service aces and four blocks.

The senior outside hitter produced 20 kills, nine digs, 34 receptions and three blocks in a five-set loss to Bethel University (Ind.) on Friday.  Three days earlier, she put up 14 kills and eight digs in a four-set decision over Olivet Nazarene University.

Martinez, meanwhile, picked up CCAC Defender of the Week honors after averaging 4.11 digs per set over her two matches and nine sets played.  The junior libero had 19 digs versus Bethel and another 18 opposite Olivet Nazarene.

Saint Xavier is 6-9 overall and a perfect 3-0 in league play following its 1-1 week.     

Other Attacker Nominees: Yomailis Fernandez (Judson), Desiree Anderson (St. Francis), Grace Beitzel (St. Ambrose), Ryleigh Grott (Indiana South Bend), Jada Mitchell (Viterbo), Sarah Neighbors (Trinity Christian).

Other Defender Nominees: Alyssa Gerzel (Judson), Kaitlynn Bennett (Indiana South Bend), Makenzie Ritsema (Trinity Christian), Kenia Diaz Vega (St. Ambrose), Cadence Wodrich (St. Francis).

Other Setter Nominees: Kaleigh Ritter (Saint Xavier), Haley Doucet (St. Ambrose), Emma Knowlton (Indiana South Bend), Alyssa Teske (St. Francis).