LEXINGTON, KY- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its National Player of the Week for all of Division III on Tuesday. Sophomore middle blocker Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) was tabbed with the recognition.

Gearhart was a catalyst in leading the Eagles to their eighth consecutive Landmark Conference Title.  In the conference semifinals against Moravian, she had 12 kills on .588 hitting before following it up with a 13-kill (.417 hitting), five-dig performance in the championship sweep over Susquehanna. This is the 14th time a Juniata student-athlete has garnered Sports Imports/AVCA Player of the Week honors, with the most recent coming from Paige Johnston on October 27, 2009.

Juniata will play Franciscan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Wittenberg College Thursday. Match time will be at 12:30 p.m.