Lady Jackets’ Kruse Honored by Heartland (10/4/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings volleyball player Nicole Kruse has been named the Heartland Conference defensive player of the week.  The award is the first of the season for Kruse, a sophomore libero from Huntley, MT.  The Yellowjackets have collected a combined seven player of the week awards this season.

Kruse averaged 5.0 digs per game last week to help Montana State-Billings to a pair of Heartland Conference sweeps on the road against Dallas Baptist.  She had 17 digs in Friday’s win and added another 13 on Saturday.  Kruse also had three service aces in each match and leads the Yellowjackets with 45 aces (0.64/game) on the season.

Kruse currently ranks second in the Heartland Conference for service aces per game and total service aces.  She is also ninth in the conference for digs per game (3.21) and seventh for total digs with 225.