Photo courtesy Catawba athletics.

Melissa Powers, a junior middle blocker for Catawba College, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week for her strong performance at Armstrong Atlantic's Chatham Orthopedic Classic. In Catawba's first match of the tournament, Powers tallied 12 kills, four digs and seven total blocks in helping lead the Indians to a 3-0 sweep of UNC Pembroke. She followed that up with 23 kills, one ace and four digs in another sweep, this time of host Armstrong Atlantic. Francis Marion was Catawba's next opponent, and Powers had another strong match, this time putting away 20 kills and collecting eight total blocks in the 3-1 win. She finished the tournament with a 21 kill, three total block performance in the Indians’ sweep of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. For the week, she averaged a .332 hitting percentage, 5.4 kills and 1.38 blocks per game. Powers is the first athlete from Catawba to be named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week. The Indians are coached by Ginger Hamric.