KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its first fall weekly awards of the 2020-21 season on Tuesday and for the first time in the history of the Mid-America Christian volleyball program, an Evangel found itself on the list as Maegan Plunk was tabbed as the Defender of the Week.
The 5-3 senior libero from Rowlett, Texas made history last week by recording a program record 46 digs to lead the Evangels to a 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 15-11) upset victory at undefeated Oklahoma Wesleyan on Monday, Sept. 14. Plunk was a key piece of a defense that limited the Eagles, the 15th-ranked offensive team in the NAIA to a season-low .137 attack percentage.
The mark shattered the previous MACU record of 38 set by Shelbi Johnson in a five-set loss at Friends (Kan.) on Oct. 9, 2010 and was 10 better than Plunk's career-best of 36 recorded in a five-set defeat to Red River Athletic Conference Champion Huston-Tillotson on Aug. 24, 2019.
Not only was Plunk MACU's first player of the week since joining the NAIA in 2007, but she is also the first volleyball player from the Sooner Athletic Conference to garner national accolades since Oklahoma City libero Dani Chase was tabbed as the NAIA Defender of the Week for her efforts during the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2017.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, Plunk has recorded 78 digs through 12 sets played, as her 6.5 digs per set ranks as the fifth-best clip in the NAIA.
The Evangels will be back in-action tonight as Mid-America Christian will be traveling to Wichita, Kansas to compete against Bethel (Kan.) and Friends (Kan.) in a tri-match hosted by the Falcons. MACU will open against the Threshers at 5 p.m. before returning to the court at 7 p.m. to take on Friends.
