Women's Volleyball

2026 HCAC Volleyball Notebook, Week 2

CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) volleyball teams competed in week two of the 2026 season.

Around the League:
HCAC Volleyball Schedule | HCAC Volleyball Standings

Athletes of the Week: 
Offensive Player of the Week:
Leah Middleton (Pittsboro, Ind.) Franklin College | Outside Hitter | Sophomore - Leah Middleton was consistently excellent during the Grizzlies' perfect 5-0 week, totaling 47 kills, 34 digs, and six service aces across 15 sets of action. The sophomore had at least eight kills in each match, with a team-high 11 against both Blackburn and Alma on Friday, averaging 3.13 kills per set on a .306 hitting percentage. She added three eight-dig matches and added a career-high four blocks in a win over Alma.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Mireily Colomba (San Juan, Puerto Rico) Franklin College | Middle Blocker | Junior - Mireily Colomba had the best week of her collegiate career as Franklin won all five of its matches. She amassed 23 blocks in just 15 sets, setting a career high with seven against Spalding and then matching that with seven more (four solos) against Eureka. Colomba also had 19 kills on the week, including a career-best nine on just 12 swings against Alma.

Notable Performances:
Offense:
  • Blythe Young (Avon, Ind.) Anderson University | Setter | Junior - Blythe Young dished out a conference-high 11.10 assists per set as Anderson went 1-2 on the week. Young also contributed 0.5 service aces per set.
  • Kasey Sager (Troy, Ohio) Bluffton University | Middle Hitter | Senior - Kasey Sager pounded 36 kills (2.57 kills per set) with a .250 hitting percentage as Bluffton went 1-3 on the week. She was also in on seven blocks while being named to the All-Tournament Team for the Sommer Center Spiketacular.
  • Caylee Brandes (Moline, Ill.) Earlham College | Outside Hitter | Senior - Caylee Brandes led Earlham to a 3-1 week this week with 52 kills and a .325 attack percentage. Over the weekend, Brandes scored her 1,000th career kill in the opening match of the Dr. Bill Brandes Memorial Invitational with 13 kills in a sweep of unbeaten Austin College. Brandes also collected 29 digs with two aces and three blocks.
  • Abbey McCoy (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Outside Hitter | Senior - Abbey McCoy led Hanover to a 2-2 week, including a strong weekend at the Capital Invitational. She recorded a team-high 45 kills, averaging 3.46 kills per set. McCoy also added six service aces and two solo blocks. In the team's 3-0 win over Trine and Capital, she recorded a match high 11 kills.
  • Grace Crider (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Outside Hitter | Sophomore - Grace Crider had an outstanding offensive week helping Mount St. Joseph to a 3-1 record at the Franklin Tournament. For the week, she registered 38 kills on 84 attempts with a .310 hitting percentage. She also added seven aces from the service line. In total, she accounted for 47.5 points for the Lions in four matches. In the Lions four set win over Aurora, she registered a career-high 16 kills with a .371 hitting percentage.
  • Payton Avilez (Lexington, Ky.) Transylvania University | Outside Hitter | Freshman - Payton Avilez had a strong weekend at the Transylvania Invitational. In a match up with College of Saint Benedict, Avilez had a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs. Then against Elmhurst, she recorded 12 kills with a .321 hit percentage.
Defense:
  • Jayda Lanham (Venice, Fla.) Anderson University | Outside Hitter/Right Side | Junior - Jayda Lanham scattered 4.20 digs per set and recorded 0.40 blocks per set on defense as Anderson went 1-2 on the week. She also added 4.20 kills per set and 0.03 service aces per set on offense.
  • Emma Organ (Lambertville, Mich.) Bluffton University | Libero | Graduate Student - Emma Organ picked up 69 digs (4.93 digs per set) as Bluffton went 1-3 for the week. She also dished out 15 assists and fired three aces.
  • Madison Bizjak (San Diego, Calif.) Earlham College | Libero | Senior - Madison Bizjak led Earlham back row this week with 69 digs in a 3-1 week.
  • Madison Schicker (Fishers, Ind.) Hanover College | Libero | Junior - Madison Schicker led Hanover to a 2-2 week, playing a strong back row for the Blue and Red. The junior had a team-high 52 total digs, averaging 4.00 digs per set. She also had 10 assists and two service aces.
  • Lyndsey Stephenson (Blue Ash, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Libero | Junior - Lyndsey Stephenson helped Mount St. Joseph to a 3-1 record at the Franklin Invitational this weekend. Across four matches she registered 52 digs (4.00 per set). She was also perfect in serve receive with 42 attempts and not a single error.
  • Julia Brown (Bardstown, Ky.) Transylvania University | Libero | Junior - Julia Brown had another strong week for Transylvania. She recorded a team high 20 digs against No. 5 Berry on Friday, and followed it up with 12 against Elmhurst and six against Saint Benedict for 38 on the weekend.
2026 Athlete of the Week Reports:
Week 1 (Week ending Sept. 6)
Week 2 (Week ending Sept. 13)