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Puikkonen Named Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week
Junior middle blocker garners award for second time this season.
Oct. 16, 2000 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Junior middle blocker Nina Puikkonen (pronounced PWEEK-a-nen) from BYU was named the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week, marking the second time this season and the fourth time overall Puikkonen has earned the award. A native of Murray, Utah, Puikkonen helped the Cougars to a 2-0 record last week with victories over Air Force and New Mexico. She totaled 12 kills and five total blocks in a 15-5, 15-1, 15-1 win over Air Force, and followed with 11 kills, eight digs, three solo blocks and five block assists in a 15-6, 15-1, 15-0 win over the Lobos. For the week, Puikkonen hit .459 (26k-3e-37a) and averaged 3.83 kills per game. She has recorded 10 or more kills in 15 matches this season and currently ranks No. 8 on the BYU all-time kill list with 1,052 career kills. The NCAA leader for blocks per game the past three weeks, Puikkonen was named MWC Player of the Week and the AVCA/Sports Imports Division I National Player of the Week Sept. 11. Puikkonen was a Second Team All-America selection and the MWC Player of the Year in 1999. The Cougars, 4-2 vs. ranked opponents this year, travel to No. 5 Pepperdine Wednesday before MWC matches at UNLV and San Diego State later this week.
Mountain West Conference Players of the Week:
Sept. 4 - Courtney Cox, Jr., OH, Colorado State
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