KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released their Women's Volleyball National Players of the Week for the contests held between September 22nd to 28th, where the No. 3-ranked Corban University Women's Volleyball team saw one of their senior leaders named to one of the prestigious honors for the first time in the fall 2025 season. Senior middle blocker Gracie Boeder was named the NAIA National Defender of the Week after putting on an absolute blocking clinic just down of the Willamette Valley during the Warriors' three-set road sweeps of Oregon Tech and No. 25-ranked Southern Oregon University. She became the third student-athlete within the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) to win the award this year, representing half of the total Defender of the Week honors presented to date.
"Gracie being named the National Defender of the Week is a true testament to her relentless work ethic and passion for the game," Corban head coach Kim McLain explained when asked to discuss her first national player of the week this season. "She gives everything she has every time she steps on the court. I'm incredibly proud of her growth and the example she sets for her teammates. It is truly an honor to coach her."
To view the NAIA's release on Boeder's national recognition, click HERE.
Alongside her teammates, Boeder led a defensive charge that shocked the host Lady Owls and No. 25-ranked Raiders, as the team tallied 25 total blocks across six sets to average over four per set, with Boeder at least partially responsible for 16 of those blocking plays. In addition, Boeder smashed 11 kills on a .269 kill percentage, including seven on a .385 attacking clip against the nationally ranked Raiders.
She racked up eight blocks in both matches, with eight block assists versus OIT and seven with a solo stuff against SOU. Her dominant weekend allowed her to soar up to seventh in the CCC leaderboard for blocks per set (1.12) after averaging nearly three per set over the course of this past weekend. With a .327 season-long kill percentage, she ranks third across the conference and second among middle blockers, only trailing senior opposite hitter Makayla Roginski's incredibly efficient .346 kill percentage for the team lead.
Boeder and the No. 3-ranked Corban women's volleyball team finally returns to their home court this upcoming weekend following a two-week road trip, beginning on Friday at 2pm when they host RV Walla Walla University (7-4, 5-3).
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter (X) l Instagram l YouTube l Email
