Tera Lobdell was looking to build on her 46 kills and 40 digs from the first three matches this year, but was unable to play Wednesday night with a sore right shoulder.

The efforts that Lobdell put in last weekend’s wins over Kansas, Liberty and Western Kentucky were enough to earn her the MAC West Player of the Week Award.

“It is a great honor for Tera,” coach Ray Gooden said. “She had two great matches last weekend.”

Junior outside hitter Shara Parker filled in for Lobdell’s absence against Chicago State with nine kills, 12 digs and one service ace.

Parker’s nine kills tied for second on the team, along with Megan Markowski and Corrine Walsh, against the Cougars. Senior Brooke Dodson led the team with 12 kills.

Parker said that she felt OK on the court, but that there are always areas for improvement.

“Tera is a big person on the court,” Parker said. “She is a person that you can’t replace. It is pretty competitive with me, Tera and Brooke, but you just can’t replace Tera.”

Gooden felt that Parker did a solid job filling in for Lobdell.

“She did really well,” Gooden said. “She showed the ability that she could be a major contributor for us.”

Parker already has 15 kills this season. She had two all of last season, mainly because of injuries. She played in only 21 of the team’s 30 matches last season, mostly because of a banged up back.

In Parker’s freshman year, she had 73 kills.

Gooden said that he chose to sit Lobdell for fear that her shoulder might pop out.

The next match that the Huskies will play is versus Northern Iowa, which is ranked sixth nationally. Lobdell thinks that resting her shoulder was a smart move.

“[My shoulder] isn’t good,” Lobdell said. “But come Friday, I will be playing. I’m looking forward to Northern Iowa.”