OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senior Mia Bowman of the John Brown University volleyball team landed Sooner Athletic Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts at the Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) Texas Two-Step this past week, the conference office announced Monday morning (Aug. 24).
Her first career SAC weekly honor, Bowman becomes the first conference honoree of the young 2026 season after the libero surpassed the 20-dig mark three times in four matches, averaging 5.56 digs per set, including a career-best 37 scoops in a five-set victory over Kansas Wesleyan in the first matchup of the weekend.
On the serve-receive, Bowman racked up 85 successful receptions in 87 chances (.977) and 13 assists from the back row and added a trio of aces from the line for the Blue and Gold (1-3).
"I am so very proud of and happy for Mia – she played exceptionally well this weekend," head coach Ken Carver admitted. "She played with confidence, great effort and enthusiasm. Beyond her performance on the court, Mia led our team well, with unending encouragement and exceptional on-court communication with her teammates. She did an outstanding job helping control the ball in serve receive, which helped our offense run smoothly.
"Mia's presence and experience provided a calming influence for her teammates. It was a fantastic start to her season, and this recognition is well-deserved and couldn't have happened to a better person."
The Golden Eagles return to the court this Friday (Aug. 28) when it takes on Rust (Miss.) and William Penn (Iowa) in the first day of action at the Health Science & Pharmacy (Mo.) Eutectics Classic. The contest will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network from inside the UHSP Gymnasium in St. Louis, Mo.
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