Photo courtesy Minnesota Duluth athletics.

Danielle Beckstrand, a senior outside hitter from then-No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week after leading her team to wins over three nationally-ranked opponents last week and scoring double-doubles in all of the matches. In the Bulldogs’ first match, a 3-2 win over then-No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul, Beckstrand tallied 16 kills, 11 digs and one block assist in the win. In Duluth's next match against then-No. 16 Augustana (S.D.), Beckstrand notched 11 kills, 28 digs, three aces and four block assists in leading her team to a 3-1 win. She finished the week with 12 kills, 26 digs, one ace and one block assist in a sweep of then-No. 15 Minnesota State. For the week, Beckstrand averaged 3.25 kills, 5.42 digs and 3.92 points per game. Beckstrand’s honor marks the eighth time an athlete from Minnesota Duluth has earned Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week award, and the second one this season. The previous winner was Kari Wolford on September 4. The Bulldogs are coached by Jim Boos.