– Senior middle blocker Melissa Firtko was named The Summit League’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week in a league release on Monday. It’s the second time this season and the third time in her career that she has received the honor.

Firtko, a native of Racine, Wis., tallied 14 blocks over two matches and averaged two blocks per set during the past week. She tallied two solo blocks and four block assists in USD’s sweep of Western Illinois on Friday night, then followed up with two solo blocks and six block assists during the four-set loss to Denver on Sunday. She also added 18 kills, 10 digs and three assists over the course of the week.

South Dakota will host Iowa State in The Den on Tuesday at 7 p.m.