Kuehl, Passananti Named Players of the Week in CCIW Volleyball

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Ashley Kuehl of Carthage and Jenna Passananti 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.

Kuehl, a junior outside hitter from McFarland, Wis., had 18 kills and hit .359 (18 kills, four errors, 39 attempts) in the Lady Reds’ 3-0 win at Millikin on Oct. 10. She also collected 15 kills and hit .609 (15-1-23) in a 3-0 victory over Augustana (Ill.) on Oct. 14. The win over Augustana clinched Carthage’s third-straight CCIW championship, including a shared title with Elmhurst in 2004. The Lady Reds tied the Bluejays’ conference record of 22-consecutive regular-season wins set in 1986, 1987 and the first six of 1988. Carthage won its last two 2003 conference matches, all seven in 2004 and all seven in 2005.

Passananti, a junior setter from Western Spring, Ill., had 41 assists, 14 digs and five kills in a three-game CCIW win at Wheaton on Oct. 10. She was then named to the all-tournament team at the IWU Fall Invitational as she averaged 11.11 assists and 2.39 digs in 18 games as the Titans lost to four nationally-ranked teams - No. 1 Juniata, No. 24 Mt. St. Joseph and No. 29 UW-Platteville. Passananti had 62 assists and 15 digs in a five-game loss to No. 3 LaVerne.

2006 CCIW Volleyball Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Ashley Kuehl- Carthage (10/17/06)
Jori Simmons- Carthage (10/10/06)
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
Jenna Passananti- Illinois Wesleyan (10/17/06)
CJ Heckman- North Central (10/10/06)
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)