COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Melissa Courtney, a 5-9 senior setter for ninth-ranked Colorado State University (25-3, 13-1 Mountain West), has been chosen the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week after leading the Rams to the Mountain West Conference Tournament title and berth into the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. She is the fifth MWC player to be awarded with this honor since the inception of the league in 1999.
Courtney, who was tabbed Mountain West Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, ran the CSU offense to a .309 team attack percentage during the conference tournament. She added individual averages of 13.30 assists, 2.20 digs, 1.70 kills, 0.30 aces and 0.30 blocks per game. Courtney provided 39 assists, six digs, two block assists and six kills on nine errorless swings against New Mexico on Nov. 18 in the quarterfinals. The Rams hit .351 as a team in the three-game victory. She turned in 57 assists, 11 digs, one block solo and six kills on 10 errorless attacks in the semifinal round versus BYU. Courtney led the Rams to a .381 team attack percentage in the championship match against 19th-ranked Utah. She charted 37 assists, three aces, five digs and five kills on seven attacks without an error. For the week, Courtney amassed 17 kills on 26 swings without a hitting error. She is the third Ram in school history to earn the national award. The Colorado State head coach is Tom Hilbert.
