Nelson, Verticchio Named Players of the Week in CCIW Volleyball

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Jessica Nelson of Elmhurst, along with Jaclyn Verticchio of Illinois Wesleyan were named volleyball players of the week in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tuesday after their performances during the previous week of competition.

Nelson, a senior outside hitter from Columbus, Ohio, while alternating between libero and outside hitter, finished the week with 50 kills while hitting .471. She also led the team with 138 digs (6.57 per game). On Tuesday she led the team in digs (26) while finishing with six kills in the Bluejays’ five-game win over North Central. At the UW-Platteville tournament, she was named to the all-tournament team totaling 29 digs in a win against Aurora, 12 kills and 34 digs in a five-game loss to Cornell and 24 digs in a win over Clarke. She saved her best match for last, totaling a team-high 26 kills and 25 digs in the Bluejays’ five-game win over #19 UW-Platteville. She led the team in digs in all five matches on the week.

Verticchio, a senior libero from Jacksonville, Ill., averaged 6.79 digs per game in 19 games as IWU played five matches, including three against opponents ranked in the top 16. Verticchio had 37 digs in a four-game win over Wis.-LaCrosse and had 26 in five games vs. No. 14 Carthage, and 25 in four games against both No. 8 Wis.-Oshkosh and No. 16 Wis.-Whitewater. She also averaged a team-high .42 service aces per game for the week that saw IWU lose in five to Carthage and go 2-2 at the Wis.-Whitewater tournament.

2006 CCIW Volleyball Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Jessica Nelson- Elmhurst (10/3/06)
Carly Bearwald- Elmhurst (9/26/06)
Jenny McMillen- Millikin (9/19/06)
Mallory Sullivan - Wheaton (9/12/06)
Rachel Cook- Millikin (9/6/06)

Setter/Defensive Player of the Week
Jaclyn Verticchio- Illinois Wesleyan (10/3/06)
Jenna Passananti- Illinois Wesleyan (9/26/06)
Kelly Bauer- Carthage (9/19/06)
Kelly Bauer- Carthage (9/12/06)
Stephanie Ryding- North Central (9/6/06)