SAN MATEO, Calif. — For just the second time in the history of the award, a Saint Mary's Volleyball player is taking home the West Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Week. Announced on Monday afternoon by the conference, Kristen Erland has won the award for the first time in her career after one of the best blocking weeks in Gaels history.
Erland had one of the best individual blocking performances in Saint Mary's history on Friday night as the Gaels beat Pennsylvania in straight sets. The sophomore middle blocker put up 13 total blocks in three sets, the fourth-most in a single match in Saint Mary's history, to help SMC win.