Player of the Week: December 3, 2012

Each Monday in the fall, one player originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for her performance of the past week and current season.

Player of the Week:Vladislava Kopanarova

MidAmerica Nazarene University (NAIA)
Junior, 6'1"Middle Blocker
Home:Razlog, Bulgaria
Reported by AVSR Global:January 2010
See Vladi Kopanarova’s bio at the MidAmerica Nazarene web site.

Last week’s action:

• MNU, ranked 18th nationally, beat four Top 25 teams in four days at the NAIA championship tournament. The Pioneers reached the quarterfinals for the first time in team history.
• Kopanarova scored 43 kills and 14 blocks in the tourney, hitting at .376 efficiency. MNU fell to fourth-ranked Biola after defeating Hastings, Embry-Riddle, Bellevue and Idaho.
• A junior college transfer, Kopanarova played for last year’s NJCAA champion Blinn College.

Excerpt from the original AVSR Global report (2010):

“A lively body and fast, easy movement make her an upper-level recruit and occasionally a spectacular attacker. .... She’s an active player at times, but usually she’s cool and passive. More energy and awareness could take her to a higher playing level.”

Special Mention:Katarina Bursac

University of Texas at Brownsville (NAIA)
Freshman, 5'10"Setter
Home:Belgrade, Serbia
Reported by AVSR Global:December 2011
See Katarina Bursac’s bio at the Texas-Brownsville web site.

Last week’s action:

• The freshman setter paced UTB to third place at the NAIA national championship tourney.
• UTB closed the season with a 30-2 record, ending with a semifinal loss to Columbia 3-2.
• Bursac led the Scorpions to a .289 hitting rate for the year, averaging 10.8 assists per set.

Excerpt from the original AVSR Global report (2011):

“Longtime setter for high-level club teams. Ready to guide a 5-1 offense as a freshman in the Top 60 of Division I. .... Strong, stable, and efficient. Fast feet but not explosive quickness.”