Senior middle hitter Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week after a trio of stellar blocking efforts last week in three Valparaiso victories.

Vanden Berg opened the week with a five-block match in the Crusaders' come-from-behind win over IUPUI, and followed with seven rejections in Valpo's home win over Oakland. She closed out the week with six blocks while playing just two sets in the sweep of Wright State.

Vanden Berg, who led the league with 18 total blocks last week, is now averaging 1.75 blocks/set over her last four matches and ranks second in the league on the season with an average of 1.19 blocks/set on the season. The senior, who received her third weekly award from the league office, and the rest of the Crusaders return to action Tuesday night in non-league action at Illinois State.