ELMHURST, Ill. - The Summit League selected South Dakota State libero Shay Birath as its defensive player of the week on Monday after a record-breaking weekend on the road.

"Shay played very good this weekend for us on the road," head volleyball coach Phil McDaniel said. "Her ability to keep the ball live in long crucial rallies has been outstanding this season." 

Birath garners her fourth career Defensive Player of the Week honor, and second of the season, after setting the school record for digs in a 3-set match with 32 against Western Illinois on Friday. Her total also tied the second-best mark in Summit League history for a 3-set match. 

The junior libero from Marshall, Minn., came back on Saturday to record 20 digs against IUPUI, her fifth-straight match of 20 or more digs.  For the weekend, Birath totaled 52 digs, averaging 8.67 per set.

Birath and the Jackrabbits return to action this weekend with two matches at home, starting with Oakland on Friday and IPFW on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.