SAN MATEO, Calif. — For just the second time in the history of the award, a Saint Mary's Volleyball player is taking home the West Coast Conference's Defensive Player of the Week. Announced on Monday afternoon by the conference, Kristen Erland has won the award for the first time in her career after one of the best blocking weeks in Gaels history.
 
Erland had one of the best individual blocking performances in Saint Mary's history on Friday night as the Gaels beat Pennsylvania in straight sets. The sophomore middle blocker put up 13 total blocks in three sets, the fourth-most in a single match in Saint Mary's history, to help SMC win. That total of 13 blocks is one of the best marks in the country as the Gaels recorded 15 team blocks, tied for the most in a three-set match in the NCAA this season. She added four more blocks in Saturday's win over CSUN for 17 blocks on the week, in addition to a total of 18 kills and a .533 hitting percentage.
 
She is the second Gael ever to win the award, with Jennifer "Boo" Laird winning the award on March 15, 2021 during the COVID-19-altered season. She is the second Gaels to win a WCC weekly award this season, with Taylor Poland of women's soccer winning the Defensive Player of the Week award once.
 
Saint Mary's Volleyball plays its final two non-conference games of the 2022 season this week, with the first coming on the road and the second at home. The Gaels will head to UC Davis to take on the Aggies in a rare Tuesday night contest before returning home and taking on the Cal Golden Bears on Thursday night. The Gaels will then prepare for the start of West Coast Conference play the following week.