For the third week in a row, an NIU volleyball player has won the West Division Mid-American Conference Player of the Week award.

Freshman outside hitter Tera Lobdell is the latest recipient.

“There isn’t a better freshman than her in the league,” said coach Todd Kress. “There are better athletes in the league, players that are maybe putting up better numbers at times, but when it comes to what she means to a team and a program, there is not a better freshman in this conference right now.”

In three games — all wins — versus Iowa, Ball State and Western Michigan, Lobdell averaged 4.89 kills per match while hitting .543 (44-6-70). Also, she averaged 2.89 digs and 0.89 assists per game.

Starting off the week with 13 kills and 10 digs in a win over Iowa, she then went on to hit .609 and added 15 kills in a win over the Cardinals in a battle for first place in the division. She finished the week with 16 kills and 11 digs in a victory over the Broncos.

What Kress was most impressed with was her performance against Western Michigan.

“When you’ve got [numbers] 15 (M’Myia McQuirter) and 10 (Zakiya Pope) out blocking you, it’s like hitting in a closet because you’re not putting that ball away,” said Kress. “Sixteen kills and only three errors [for Lobdell] against the best blocking team that we’ve gone up against, not just in this conference, but in the year, there is a lot to be said about that.”

Lobdell attributes her success to her continued development as a player. Also getting more acquainted with her new teammates as the season progresses has helped the Minnesota-native.

“Each game I play I get more comfortable and confident in myself,” said Lobdell.

Six-foot-one junior Rena Widboom has won the MAC West Player of the Week award the past two weeks.