Tuesday, September 7, 2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After leading Simon Fraser to the best start in the team’s GNAC era, freshman opposite Brooke Dexter was named the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Player of the Week for the 2021 season.

Dexter, who was also named the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, led Simon Fraser to a 4-0 record at the Seaside Invitational in San Diego. She finished the week averaging 4.62 kills and 2.88 digs per set as SFU beat three teams that were listed in the AVCA Preseason Top-25 Poll, including a four-set upset of 2019 national champion Cal State San Bernardino on Friday.

Dexter opened her collegiate career with totals of 13 kills, seven digs and two blocks in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Azusa Pacific. She then led SFU with totals of 24 kills, nine digs, two blocks and a .388 hitting percentage in the four-set win over Cal State San Bernardino, which was ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll.

Dexter closed the tournament with efforts of 20 kills and 11 digs against Cal State LA on Friday and 17 kills and 19 digs against Point Loma on Saturday.

In addition to the individual honors for Dexter, Simon Fraser shared GNAC Team of the Week honors with Saint Martin’s volleyball. Simon Fraser also parlayed its performance into a No. 24 ranking in this week’s AVCA Division II Poll, which was released on Monday.

The matches at the Seaside Invitational were the first for Simon Fraser since November 20, 2019. The team was unable to compete during the 2020-21 season due to the U.S/Canada border closure necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dexter and her Simon Fraser teammates will travel to Seattle this weekend for the SPU/CWU Invitational. They will face Biola on Friday and St. Cloud State and Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.