MIAC Athletes of the Week, 9-12-16

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) has been opposing coaches' worst nightmare through the first two weeks of the volleyball season, amassing 126 kills through the Cardinals' first nine matches.
 
Blattner was good in the Cardinals' season-opening 4-0 run through the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic, collecting 46 kills and 26 digs en route to earning all-tournament honors.
 
But the Cardinal sophomore was even better in their five matches this past week—racking up 79 kills and 46 digs in helping Saint Mary's to a 4-1 record—including four straight wins at last weekend's St. Catherine Invitational.
 
And Blattner's efforts did not go unnoticed, as she was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week.
 
Blattner kicked off her week with a 15-kill, 15-dig showing in the Cardinals' 3-1 nonconference loss to UW-Eau Claire last Wednesday, before adding 64 kills—including a season- and career-high 29 in a 3-1 win over Central-Iowa—31 digs, three service aces and four blocks in Saint Mary's four tournament matches.
 
The sophomore outside hitter finished the week with three double-doubles in the Cardinals' five matches, adding 29 kills and 12 digs against Central and 22 kills and 12 digs against Nebraska Wesleyan to last Wednesday's 15 kills and 15 digs vs. UW-EC.
 
Blattner, whose 29 kills against Central-Iowa were the most by a Cardinal since Molli Dant recorded 29 against Wartburg on Oct. 31, 2002, is currently second in the conference in kills (126) and kills-per-set (4.34).
 
The Cardinals (8-1 overall) kick off conference play on Wednesday, traveling to St. Catherine's Butler Center in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Wildcats.