The Valparaiso University volleyball team picked up its second MVC weekly award in as many weeks on Monday, as the conference office announced that sophomore libero Rylee Cookerly (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Cookerly posted the top digs/set average in the conference last week as she continues to anchor Valpo's back row, as the team plays with just one middle blocker up front. The sophomore tallied 26 digs as Valpo took MVC leader UNI to five sets in Cedar Falls on Friday night, and then followed with a match-high 18 digs in Valpo’s sweep of Drake Saturday evening. Cookerly averaged 5.50 digs/set on the weekend and also received 36 serves over the two matches without committing a serve reception error.

On the season, Cookerly ranks among the top-50 in the nation with 4.99 digs/set and is leading the way for Valpo as it ranks ninth nationally as a team in digs. She also ranks second among all active D-I players in career digs/set as well.