Two Miles volleyball players secured three of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference weekly awards for their performances last week. Freshman Karea Copeland was chosen as the Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week while junior Precious Sturdivant was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.

Sturdivant, a middle blocker from Birmingham, Ala., continued her late-season work at the net, finishing with 14 blocks (five solo), six digs and six kills as Miles went 2-1. She had four blocks (three solo) in a loss to Spring Hill, then added six more against Tuskegee. Four of those blocks came in the fifth set, two when the Lady Bears needed them most. Down 14-12, her combo block saved the first of two match points. Her final combo block secured the victory and netted Miles a SIAC Tournament berth.

Copeland, an outside hitter from Newnan, Ga., completed her first regular season with the Lady Bears last week, hitting .254 with 49 kills, 22 digs, seven service aces, five assists, and seven blocks (one solo). Her best effort came in a five-set road win at Tuskegee, where she made all the plays at the biggest moments. Facing match point and the possible end of the season, Copeland got a kill that tied the final set at 14, added another that gave Miles a 16-15 advantage and combined on a block with Sturdivant that sealed the victory. She finished with 23 kills - the sixth time that she topped 20 kills in a match and the third time that she had exactly 23 - and added 10 digs for her 16th double-double.