GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Leah Gardner | Ouachita Baptist | MB | Sr. | Crandall, Texas
Ouachita Baptist senior middle blocker Leah Gardner was named the GAC Offensive Player of the Week after victories over Arkansas Tech on the road and a home sweep over Henderson State. Gardner finished the final week of the regular season with 35 total kills across eight sets while hitting .341. In Ouachita's five-set victory over Tech, Gardner had a season-high 20 kills with a .315 average to help OUA nab the No. 3 seed in the upcoming 2026 GAC Volleyball Championships.
DEFENSIVE
Breana Tims | East Central | L | So. | Duncanville, Texas
East Central sophomore libero Breana Tims helped East Central clinch a spot in the 2026 GAC Volleyball Championships with a four-set victory against Southern Nazarene in its home finale. Against SNU, Tims delivered 18 digs in the four-set victory while also adding five set assists and a service ace. A few days later, Tims recorded 26 digs in four sets against Oklahoma Baptist.
SETTER
Mackenzie Sims | Southwestern Oklahoma State | S | So. | Amarillo, Texas
Southwestern Oklahoma State sophomore setter Mackenzie Sims led the league during the final week of the regular season with 14.17 assists per set as SWOSU swept its final two matches prior to the 2026 GAC Volleyball Championships. Against Southeastern, Sims matched her season-high for assists for a three-set match with 44 assists. 48 hours later, the four-time GAC Setter of the Week handed Northwestern Oklahoma State 41 assists. In both matches, Sims recorded a double-double with 11 and 14 digs, respectively.
WEEKLY AWARDS
GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 7 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 14 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 21 Melaina Haines, Harding
Sept. 28 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene (x2)
Oct. 5 Melody Donegan, Oklahoma Baptist
Oct. 12 Henley Hooks, Arkansas Tech
Oct. 19 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist (x3)
Oct. 26 Katja Blanchat, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Nov. 2 Gabby Jones, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Nov. 9 Leah Gardner, Ouachita Baptist
GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State
Sept. 7 Hannah Morgan, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 14 Rauly Eason, Harding
Sept. 21 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x2)
Sept. 28 Patience Lewis, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 5 Riley Richardson, Southern Nazarene
Oct. 12 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x3)
Oct. 19 Lauren Demuth, Harding
Oct. 26 Patience Lewis, Southeastern Oklahoma State (x2)
Nov. 2 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x4)
Nov. 9 Breana Tims, East Central
GAC Setter of the Week
Aug. 31 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 7 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Sept. 14 Olivia Wiedower, Harding
Sept. 21 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 28 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x2)
Oct. 5 Jasmin Dion, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 12 Mack Bidwell, Ouachita Baptist
Oct. 19 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x3)
Oct. 26 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x3)
Nov. 2 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x4)
Nov. 9 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x4)