Rockhurst women's volleyball claimed two of the three final Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) weekly awards of the 2026 season, with junior middle hitter Delaney Hope earning Offensive Player of the Week and senior middle hitter Ali Olson receiving Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday (Nov. 9).
The duo helped lead Rockhurst to a share of the GLVC Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2021 after the Hawks closed out conference play with consecutive three-set sweeps over Missouri-St. Louis and McKendree at Mason-Halpin Field House.
Hope earned her first career GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honor after recording 19 kills and 23 points across six sets, averaging 3.17 kills and 3.83 points per set. The Nevada, Missouri, native posted an impressive .643 hitting percentage on 28 attempts while adding five blocks, one service ace and one dig.
Hope's top performance came in Saturday's regular-season finale against McKendree, when she finished with nine kills and a .750 hitting percentage to help the Hawks secure a share of the conference title. She becomes the second Rockhurst player to earn GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors this season, joining Alyssa McDonald, who received the award on Sept. 28.
Olson earned her third career GLVC Defensive Player of the Week honor after anchoring a Rockhurst defense that held its opponents to a combined .074 hitting percentage over the weekend.
The Mission, Kansas, native totaled 14 blocks, including three solo stops, across six sets for an average of 2.33 blocks per set. Olson also contributed 17 kills on a .517 hitting percentage, along with two digs and two assists.
Her standout performance came Friday against Missouri-St. Louis, when she recorded 10 blocks, including two solo stops, and 10 kills to help Rockhurst sweep the nationally recognized Tritons.
The honor marks Olson's third career GLVC Defensive Player of the Week selection after previously receiving the award on Sept. 23, 2024, and Oct. 23, 2023. She is the first Hawk to earn the defensive honor this season.
Rockhurst closed out the regular season with a share of the GLVC championship following its two weekend victories. The Hawks now turn their attention to the GLVC Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 12-14 in Williamsville, Illinois.
