KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Sophomore middle blocker Crystal Smith was announced as the MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week Monday (Oct. 12) following her performances last weekend, helping the Gorillas go 3-0 against Rockhurst, Arkansas - Fort Smith and Northeastern State.

The Jasper, Mo., native was also tabbed the D2VB Stats Central Region Player of the Week. This is the first time in her career being named either the Offensive or Defensive Player of the Week from the MIAA and first time being honored by D2VB Stats.

Smith helped the Gorillas claim a five set win over Rockhurst at home (Oct. 6) before ending the weekend with road sweeps over UAFS (Oct. 9) and NSU (Oct. 10). She finished the week averaging 3.36 points from 2.09 blocks and 2.09 kills a set at a .286 hitting percentage. Among Division II ranks for the week, Smith finished as the division leader for blocks per set and total blocks and helped PSU finished as the leading team for blocks (46.5) and blocks per set (4.23).

She began the weekend with a match-leading 12 total blocks and 10 kills (.444) for a historic double-double performance against RU; being part of the first trio in school history to record block-kill double-doubles in the same match alongside Maddi LaPointe (11-16) and Amariah White (11-11). In MIAA action against Arkansas - Fort Smith (Oct. 9) she notched her 12th match of the season with at least 10 kills (.313), adding in six total blocks for 13.0 points in the match. Ended the weekend against Northeastern State (Oct. 10) where she collected five total blocks (three solo) for her 13th match this season with five or more total blocks.

Among NCAA Division II ranks this season, Smith is first for total blocks (123) and blocks per set (1.71), 20th for hitting percentage (.398) and 44th for points per set (4.15). In MIAA ranks she leads the conference in blocks, blocks per set and points per set while being second for hitting percentage, eighth for total kills (218) and 12th for kills per set (3.03).