KANSAS CITY, Mo. – St. Thomas (Fla.) senior middle blocker Ana Clara Valentim do Vale has been named the PrestoSports NAIA Women’s Volleyball Defender of the Week after a historic defensive performance that helped lead the Bobcats to a straight-set victory over Webber International (Fla.).
Valentim do Vale etched her name into the St. Thomas record book on Sept. 4, recording a school-record 15 total blocks in a 3-0 sweep of the Warriors. Her dominant presence at the net was instrumental in limiting Webber International’s offensive attack, as the Bobcats held their opponents to a -.041 hitting percentage.
The senior tallied one solo block and 14 block assists, averaging 5.00 blocks per set across the three-set match. In addition to her defensive impact, Valentim do Vale contributed offensively with four kills on nine swings while posting a .333 hitting percentage.
Her record-breaking outing anchored a St. Thomas defense that consistently disrupted Webber International’s rhythm, turning away attacks and creating opportunities for the Bobcats throughout the match. The 15-block performance stands as one of the most impressive individual defensive efforts in program history and set a new benchmark for the Bobcats.
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay
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