ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Megan Pekarek seems to thrive under pressure.
This past week, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team found itself in two five-set thrillers, and Pekarek didn’t even flinch. In fact, her stat line was incredibly similar for both matches.
The sophomore setter averaged a triple-double with nearly identical numbers in a 3-2 win against St. Scholastica Wednesday and a 3-2 loss to Gustavus Saturday afternoon. For her big week, Pekarek has been named the CSB Athlete of the Week.
This marks the second Blazer Athlete of the Week honor for Pekarek, who also won the award on Sept. 21. The latest honor for the Plymouth, Minn., native comes after a huge week where she averaged 49 assists, 13.5 digs and 11 kills per set.
Pekarek started the week with a triple-double – the first for the Blazers since Taya Kockelman recorded a triple-double on Oct. 27, 2012, at Concordia. She finished the night one assist shy of her career-high with 50 and also added 13 digs and 11 kills. For good measure, she also had three service aces and two blocks.
Saturday, Pekarek helped the Blazers take a 2-0 lead over league-leading Gustavus and remained calm under pressure as the Gusties fought back to force a fourth then fifth set. She finished the night with a second straight triple-double with 48 assists, 14 digs and 11 kills, along with two blocks.
Pekarek finished the week with 98 assists, 27 digs and 22 kills. She currently leads the MIAC with 881 total assists and is more than 100 assists ahead of Gustavus’ Nora Holtan, who is second in the league with 766 assists. Pekarek also leads the league with 9.47 assists per set.
Pekarek and her CSB teammates wrap up the regular season with a pair of key MIAC matches this week. The Blazers, who are tied for fourth with Concordia with 6-3 conference records, are at Augsburg Wednesday night and host the Cobbers Saturday. The Gusties, Bethel and Saint Mary’s have already sealed spots in the league’s postseason tournament, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 3.
