Complete WAC Release
DENVER - One of the most powerful offensive performances in recent memory has helped yield some league honors for an NM State volleyball player.
Monday morning, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) named junior outside hitter Katie Birtcil its Offensive Player of the Week following a pair of spectacular offensive showcases in the Aggies' first week of league play.
Birtcil stole the show in Orem, Utah, last Thursday night in the highly-anticipated rematch of the spring 2021 WAC Tournament title bout between NM State and Utah Valley. The Tucson, Ariz., product powered the Aggies to a 3-1 victory over the Wolverines by pounding down a match and career-high 24 kills. A threat at the service line as well, Birtcil added three aces while completing a double-double effort with a career-best 11 digs.
Her 24 kills represented the highest termination total by an Aggie since Nov. 15, 2018, when Tatyana Battle hammered home 27 in a five-set WAC victory over Kansas City inside the Pan American Center. They are also the fourth-most by any WAC player in a four-set match this season.
Saturday afternoon in St. George, Utah, Birtcil followed up her big-time performance by spring for a match-best 14 kills as the Aggies shook off a slow start to collect a 3-1 league victory at Dixie State. For the week, Birtcil averaged 4.75 kills, 2.13 digs, 0.50 service aces and 0.38 blocks per set.
Thanks to Birtcil, NM State is the league's only team with a 2-0 record in WAC play through the first week of conference matches. NM State's 11 wins are the most in the WAC while its eight-match winning streak is the longest in the WAC and the seventh-lengthiest among all NCAA Division I volleyball squads.
Birtcil and the rest of the Aggies are set to be back inside the Pan American Center this week for their first two WAC home matches of the season. Thursday night at 6:00 p.m., NM State puts its 2-0 league mark on the line against Seattle U. ESPN+ and the ESPN app are set to stream every second of the action.
For complete coverage of NM State volleyball throughout the 2021 season and beyond, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Volleyball), Twitter (@NMStateVBall) and Instagram (@NMStateVBall).
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