CLEVELAND -- The Mid-American Conference announced today that Western Michigan senior libero Caitlin Strimel is the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. This is the second time this season and fourth career time Strimel has earned a MAC weekly award. WMU has won the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week award five total times and the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week award three times.

Strimel compiled 51 total digs for 7.29 digs per set to lead Western Michigan (16-9, 8-2 MAC) to victories over Kent State (11-13, 4-6 MAC) and Ohio (17-5, 9-1 MAC). Strimel started the week with a season-high 32 digs against the Golden Flashes to lead a defensive effort that produced 105 digs, third-most in a four-set match in school history and only the seventh 100-dig match in school history. Strimel came back against the MAC's top attacking team and produced 19 digs against Ohio. The Broncos held their two opponents to a combined .134 hitting with KSU hitting .098 and OU hitting .190, 103 points lower than its average in MAC matches. Strimel was perfect on serve receive with no errors in 25 attempts against two of the top serving teams in the conference.

The Broncos continue their five-match homestand with a weekend doubleheader against Ball State (10-13, 3-7 MAC) and Toledo (14-8, 5-5 MAC) on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.