Junior libero Brittany Malicoat (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week today after leading the Crusaders on the back line during two wins last weekend.  Malicoat has received the honor three times this season, the most by any league player.

Malicoat kicked off the weekend with a 27-dig effort in Valpo’s hard-fought five-game victory at Loyola.  She followed the next night with 27 more digs in the Crusaders’ four-game win at UIC.  With her 26^th dig against the Flames, Malicoat tallied her 1,600^th career dig, and now has 1,601, second-most in Valpo history.

On the weekend, Malicoat averaged six digs per game, extending her Horizon League single-season record total to 653 digs.  She is also just 22 digs shy of matching her own Crusader single-season record, set last season.  Heading into the Horizon League Championship, the junior leads the League in digs/game (5.78) and aces/game (0.38).