Wayne State College junior Chloe Hanel was announced Monday afternoon as the Northern Sun Conference Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week following her performances last week in three Wildcat NSIC road victories.  It's her first NSIC Player of the Week honor this season. 
            A 6-0 middle hitter from Clarkson (Clarkson-Leigh HS), averaged 1.60 blocks per set to go with 3.00 kills and a .351 hitting percentage in Wildcat road wins at #11 SMSU (3-0), Northern State (3-1) and Jamestown (3-0).  Hanel totaled 16 blocks during the week including seven solo blocks while helping lead a Wildcat defense that posted an NSIC-low .130 hitting percentage by opponents last week.
            Hanel had nine blocks that included five solo stops to go with nine kills in Saturday's 3-0 sweep at Jamestown.  She produced 17 kills and three blocks in Friday's 3-1 win at Northern State and added four blocks in Tuesday's 3-0 win at #11 Southwest Minnesota State. 
            For the season, Hanel averaged 2.70 kills and 1.13 blocks per set for the Wildcats with a .350 hitting percentage.  She leads the NSIC in solo blocks with 21, ranks third in blocks per set, is 10^th in points per set (3.61) and 12^th in hitting percentage. 
            Wayne State, ranked second in last week's AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, is 17-1 on the season and tied for first in the NSIC with Minnesota Duluth at 9-0 in league play.  The Wildcats open a five-match homestand in Rice Arena this weekend hosting the University of Mary on Friday evening at 6 p.m.