Grand Rapids, Mich. -- If there was a volleyball headed toward the floor this weekend, chances are Kami Morse was somewhere nearby making sure it never got there.

For four matches and 16 sets, the Aquinas senior seemed to make a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that meant extending a rally. Other times it meant settling the Saints when a match became a five-set battle. And 93 times, it meant putting another dig beside her name in the box score.

That kind of weekend gets noticed.

On Monday, Morse was named the WHAC Women's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week, giving one of the veteran leaders of No. 17 Aquinas a well-earned moment in the spotlight.

The numbers certainly make a convincing case — 93 digs, 5.81 digs per set, 83 serve receptions, eight service aces and a .952 reception percentage during a perfect 4-0 weekend.

But spend enough time around this Aquinas team and Morse's value becomes about considerably more than numbers.

She is the steady presence in the back row. The senior willing to throw herself after another ball. The teammate helping make the next swing, the next kill and, ultimately, the next victory possible.

This week, the individual honor belongs to Kami Morse.

As her head coach will quickly point out, however, the accomplishment has plenty of fingerprints on it.

"Kami is such an important part of what we do, and this recognition is very well deserved," Aquinas head coach Ryan Campbell said. "She brings consistency to our back row, competes on every point and gives us the kind of leadership you expect from a senior. What makes this group special, though, is that they understand individual recognition comes from a team effort. Our serving, our block, our defense and the pressure we create together all play a part in those opportunities. We are proud of Kami for earning this honor, but it is also a reflection of how this entire team competes for one another."

Morse opened the weekend with 17 digs in a three-set victory over Saint Xavier before collecting 19 digs and three service aces as Aquinas swept Marian.

As the matches became longer, Morse continued answering the call.

She collected 22 digs in Aquinas' five-set victory over Rio Grande before delivering her biggest defensive performance of the weekend against nationally ranked IU Kokomo.

With the Saints battling the No. 13 Cougars on their home floor, Morse recorded a weekend-high 35 digs — seven per set — as Aquinas completed its perfect weekend with another five-set victory.

She also handled 83 serve receptions across the four matches with just four reception errors, finishing with a .952 reception percentage.

Those are the numbers that helped Morse earn the conference honor.

Her importance to Aquinas, however, has been years in the making.

Morse arrived at AQ following a four-year varsity career at Wayland High School, where she earned all-conference honors three times. She also competed for Far Out Volleyball Club and demonstrated her athletic versatility as a softball player.

She chose Aquinas because it immediately felt like home and provided the opportunity to pursue her goals academically and athletically.

Now a senior majoring in Business Administration, Morse has gone from choosing Aquinas because it felt like home to becoming one of the veteran Saints helping create that same environment for those around her.

Her role is not necessarily built around producing the final swing or receiving the loudest reaction from the crowd.

It is digging the ball that appeared destined for the floor.

Handling the serve that allows the offense to get into system.

Providing stability when a match begins to turn.

And competing for the next point regardless of what happened on the one before it.

For four matches this weekend, Morse did all of those things.

The statistics made her performance impossible to overlook. The WHAC recognized it. And for a senior who has built her Aquinas career around consistency, leadership and doing the work required in the back row, this week's spotlight belongs to Kami Morse.

90's Night, Wednesday – AQ Community Plan to Attend

Morse and the No. 17 Saints return to Coach Bo Court on Wednesday, Sept. 2, when Aquinas opens WHAC play against Michigan-Dearborn at 7 p.m.

The conference opener will feature 90's Night, with numerous local high school and middle school volleyball teams expected to join the AQ community at Coach Bo Court. The match will also be streamed live with Joey Sutherlin on the call — provided he recovers from handling the ceremonial first serve and, hopefully, getting it somewhere close to the net.

There will be plenty to celebrate Wednesday night, but before the Saints turn their attention to WHAC play, this week's spotlight belongs exactly where it should — on WHAC Defensive Player of the Week Kami Morse.

It's a great day to be a Saint.