National Honors bestowed upon Holz, Squiers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A day after earning weekly conference player of the week recognition Bellevue University student-athletes Taylor Holz and Maddie Squiers have earned national distinction by the NAIA for their performances during the week of Sept. 5-11.

Bellevue won all four of their matches over the weekend. Their stay in Springfield saw them sweep three opponents in straight sets while also knocking off #20 Evangel in come-from-behind fashion in a five-set thriller.

A junior libero, Holz was named NAIA Defender of the Week for her performance over the weekend at the Evangel Classic. She averaged 6.79 digs per set in BU's four matches, while adding four service aces. In Bellevue's five-set comeback victory at Evangel, Holz produced 30 digs and a service aces. She had 27 digs in the Bruins' three-set sweep over the College of the Ozarks. Holz has recorded 13-straight matches with double-figure dig totals. She has collected 20-or-more digs in six matches this season, including three last week.

Holz currently ranks No. 9 in the NAIA in total digs with 282 and is fifth in the NSAA with 4.5 digs per set.

Squiers, a freshman setter, was tabbed as the NAIA Setter of the Week following her performance at the Evangel Classic. She averaged 12.14 assists per game in BU's four wins while adding 30 digs, 14 kills, 10 blocks, and a pair of service aces. Additionally, she notched her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with 47 assists and 11 digs in the Bruins' three-game sweep over Ozarks. In Bellevue's three-game win over Tabor, she charted 35 assists, eight digs, four blocks, and six kills on .455 hitting.

Squiers leads the NAIA in total assists with 671 and ranks No. 15 with 10.65 assists per game.

The national awards are the first in the careers of both Holz and Squiers.

Holz and Squiers are the first Bruins to earn National Player of the Week Honors since Beth Walker on Nov. 5, 2013. The selection of both players marks a milestone as it's the first time in program history that the Bruins have had two players selected as Player of the Week during the same week.

Park University's Wendy Romero was named National Attacker of the Week.

On the season, Bellevue rests at 11-5 overall and have won four in a row and eight of their last nine. They have a terrific 5-2 record in games against Top 25 teams and open up North Star Athletic Association play on Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Presentation College at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.