SIOUX FALLS – South Dakota senior libero Anne Rasmussen has been named the Summit League defensive player of the week, the league announced Tuesday.
 
Rasmussen, a native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, earns her fifth defensive player of the week honor this season. She totaled 33 digs in two matches averaging 5.5 digs per set as the Coyotes remained perfect in Summit League play with wins over Oral Roberts and North Dakota.
 
Rasmussen, honored for the 11th time in her career, had 20 digs in the three-set win over Oral Roberts and registered 13 digs and five assists in sweep over North Dakota. The 11 career honors are the most defensive player of the week honors in Summit League history.
 
This season the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 4.81 digs per set, which ranks first in league statistics in that category. Rasmussen moved into 10^th in Summit League history for career digs with 1,772 during the match with North Dakota.
 
"Anne was really good defensively this weekend, so this recognition does not surprise me," coach Leanne Williamson said. "She digs the balls that she is supposed to and continues to expand her range with each team that we play.
 
"She disrupts what people want to do offensively and can be really annoying to play against which is a sign of a great defender."
 
The Coyotes, 21-1 overall and 10-0 in Summit League play, travel to Omaha on Friday before hosting Denver on Sunday for a Noon start.