Lander's McCracken Named National Player of the Week

GREENWOOD - Lander volleyball player Melissa McCracken put on quite a show last week in the "Dig Pink" tournament and it didn't go unnoticed. McCracken, a six-foot, junior outside hitter from Washington, Ill., was selected as the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week it was announced today.

This is the first time in the 12-year history of the Lander volleyball program that a player has been selected as the AVCA National Player of the Week.  She becomes the first PBC player to earn the national award since AASU's Hannah Segebart last year.

McCracken averaged 4.5 kills and 4.05 digs per set last week in helping lead Lander to a 4-1 slate.

In the "Dig Pink" tournament, which was hosted by Lander, McCracken opened with an impressive 32-kill, 15-dig performance in a five-set victory over Lees-McRrae on Friday afternoon. The 32 kills was the most in a single game in the Peach Belt Conference this season. She came back later that night and recorded 25 kills and 16 digs in a four-game win over Erskine. On Saturday, she had seven kills and 12 digs in a 3-0 loss to No. 24-ranked Wingate, and concluded the tournament with 19 kills and 30 digs in a five-set win against Anderson University. Earlier in the week, she recorded seven kills in 21 attacks and added eight digs in a three-game blowout against Queens University of Charlotte. During the week, she also contributed 11 blocks, four service aces and an assist.

On Monday, she became the first player this season to win back-to-back PBC Player of the Week honors. In PBC statistics, McCracken, ranks second in kills (3.62 per set) and is 13th in hitting percentage (.216). For the season, she has 355 kills and 264 digs to go along with 41 blocks and 15 service aces.