Tusculum’s Coffaro, Wingate’s Willis Named Volleyball Players Of the Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Tusculum College right-side hitter Gina Coffaro and Wingate University setter Liz Willis have been named Volleyball Player and Specialist of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Coffaro, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio (Seton HS), averaged 3.36 kills and 5.64 digs per set to lead the Tusculum College volleyball team to a 2-1 record last week.

Coffaro posted a .409 hitting percentage in Tusculum's 3-1 win at Catawba College. She finished with a double-double with 19 kills and 29 digs as the Pioneers completed the season-sweep over the 2008 NCAA Tournament participants. Coffaro started the week with a double-double of 12 kills and 20 digs in Tusculum's 3-1 victory over Mars Hill College. Coffaro also tallied a pair of service aces and a block assist in the win. She also posted six kills and 13 digs in a road loss at SAC front-runner Wingate University.

Gina Coffaro

Liz Willis

Willis, a sophomore from Raleigh, N.C. (Enloe HS) averaged 12.30 assists per set, to go along with 2.50 digs and 1.20 kills per set while helping the Bulldogs hit .317 for the week in their four wins. Willis had 46 assists and 11 digs in the sweep over Catawba. She had 29 assists and eight digs in the win over Tusculum. Willis collected 39 assists, six kills, five digs and three aces against Pfeiffer, while leading the Bulldogs to a season-best .426 hitting percentage. Willis leads the league with 10.24 assists per set on the year.