Alison Ernst Jr., Setter

RIPON, Wis. - For the first time in her three-year career, junior Alison Ernst has been named Midwest Conference Performer of the Week, as released Tuesday by the conference office. Ernst helped the Red Hawks to a three-set victory over Lake Forest in their only conference game last week, helping them secure a berth in the 2009 MWC Tournament. Ernst is the second Red Hawk to earn the weekly conference honor this season.

In addition to their victory over the Foresters, the Red Hawks lost a pair of non-conference matches at Saturday’s Wisconsin Lutheran Triangular. In a five-set loss to Concordia (WI), Ernst recorded a career-high 48 assists. In last week's three matches, Ernst recorded 109 assists (9.1 assists per set). She also added a combined eight kills and 20 digs.

Ernst leads the Red Hawks in assists this season with 698, which is already eighth in school history for most assists in a single season. Her 1,556 career assists ranks sixth in Red Hawk lore. The Lemont, Ill. native has also recorded 54 kills, 13 blocks, 116 digs and 20 service aces this season.