Naperville, Ill. -- North Dakota's Erin Joki (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and South Dakota's Kristen Kritenbrink shared Great West Offensive Player of the Week honors, league officials announced on Tuesday. Both players were instrumental in leading their respective teams to a league win over Utah Valley last week.

Joki did her part on Saturday as she led the Sioux to a 3-1 triumph over the Wolverines. The right side hitter equaled her career-high with 17 kills as UND rebounded from a slow start to win its second straight league match. The Sioux captain had 15 of her 17 kills in the last three sets as UND hit .342 (52k-14e-111a) after netting just four kills in the opening set.

Joki was perfect in a 25-18 third-set victory that saw her put down all four attacks, and she had six kills in the final set that saw the Sioux rally from 20-14 deficit to close the match on an 11-1 run.

"Erin played fantastic on Saturday and was a big reason why we were able to regroup and pull out the victory over a really good Utah Valley club," UND head coach Ashley Hardee said. "She has come up big for us all season and I am glad she is being recognized for her efforts."

 

Joki is the second UND player to earn the offensive award after Devin Trefz (Bagley, Minn.) collected the league's first honor on Sept. 7. 

Kritenbrink led South Dakota to a similar 3-1 win over Utah Valley on Thursday. The senior outside hitter from Gretna, Neb., posted 20 kills for a 5.00/set average in the match while also registering six digs and a solo block.

 

Joki and the Sioux will return to action this week as they continue a four-game homestand at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND will entertain Great West foes Texas-Pan American (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and Houston Baptist (Saturday, 1 p.m.).