Player of the Week: April 14, 2020

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

Week #6: Liene (Mellupe) Šimkuse

Florida Atlantic University.

NCAA Division I. Graduated in 2015.

Current Team: Mārupes SC (Latvia).

Reported by AVSR Global to coaches in 2010.

5'11" Outside Hitter.

Home: Rīga, Latvia.

See Liene Šimkuse’s bio at the FAU website.

Latest Action:

• Šimkuse was the top hitter, server and point-scorer of Latvia's National Women’s League before COVID-19 ended the 2019-20 season.
• She powered Mārupes SC to a fourth-place finish in the league, two notches above its 2018-19 standing.
• Šimkuse spent the previous four seasons with rival club SK Babīte.
• At Florida Atlantic University, Šimkuse, then Liene Mellupe, lifted FAU in 2013 and 2014 to the Owls’ best two seasons since 2005.
• Šimkuse started her U.S. career as a junior college player at the College of Southern Idaho. She won the 2012 NJCAA national championship.

Excerpt from 2010 AVSR Global report:

“A swift, powerful athlete and a dynamic, all-purpose player. … She’s recruitable as a setter, LH or RH. … Most experienced at RH and LH. She has great potential as a setter but would need development.”