NOTE: Each week, the swews4u.com sports editors; A.J. Gates (Grant County Herald Independent), Jason Nihles (Platteville Journal), Tom "Gunner" Gunnell (Republican Journal) and Erik Olson (The Richland Observer) will combine to nominate or "Prep Performers of the Week" in volleyball, cross country, boys soccer, girls swimming and girls golf. If don't agree with our rankings or you feel we missed a standout performance, feel free to post a comment and plead your case.

PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK (Sept. 6-12) -

VOLLEYBALL

Jill Wellnitz, middle hitter (Black Hawk, so.) - recorded 15 kills and six blocks in a 3-1 win over Albany on Tuesday, and 15 kills and three blocks in a 3-1 loss to Monticello on Thursday. Playing without one of the team’s top setters at the Lancaster Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10, Wellnitz registered 29 spike kills, five tip kills and 10 block kills to go along with five service aces and seven saves in the Warriors six matches.

Tess Stecklein, outside hitter (Platteville, sr.) – totaled 32 kills, seven total blocks, team-high 44 digs and seven aces as Platteville went 7-0-1 to win the Sparta Invite. It was Platteville's first tournament title since 2005 when the Hillmen (15-5-2 in 2010) won both the Iowa-Grant Invitational and the West Salem Invite. Stecklein also had 6 kills, 8 digs and served a perfect 20-for-20 as Platteville improved to 2-0 in SWC play with a sweep of Prairie du Chien last Thursday.

Breland Prochaska, libero (Fennimore, sr.) - was named the MaxPreps/AVCA High School Player of the week for Aug. 29-Sept. 4 for the state of Wisconsin. The senior libero player on the 6-1 Golden Eagle team was recognized for the week especially for her effort in her team’s 3-0 win over Mineral Point, 26-24, 25-18, 25-20. Prochaska recorded 42 digs in the battle, averaging 14 per game. She also added two aces, one assist and one kill in the match. She had another 20 digs in the Sept. 6 win over Riverdale, 3-0.

Traci Kirschbaum, middle hitter (River Ridge, sr.) – the senior middle hitter put down 20 kills, and had five blocks in the Timberwolve's 3-1 win over Highland last Tuesday night. The win improved River Ridge to a Six Rivers West record of 3-0, and they improved to 4-0 two nights later with a sweep of Benton.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Destin Komprood (Darlington, sr.) - Just 17 days after his father passed away, Komprood went out and set his career-best time of 17:12 to help the Darlington boys' team win the small school division of the River Valley Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Keeley Foley (Boscobel, fr.) - won the girls' small school individual race at the River Valley Invitational in a time of 15:45 and helped the Lady Bulldogs finish second as a team in the event. Keeley, who has quickly become the leader of Boscobel’s girls’ team, finished 18 seconds ahead of Saturday’s small schools runner-up.

BOYS SOCCER

Samuel Hale (Platteville, jr.) - scored two goals and had two assists in Platteville/Lancaster’s 6-0 win over visiting Dodgeville/Mineral Point last Thursday. The win helped the Hillmen avenge and 3-2 overtime loss on the Dodgers’ home field on 23 and once again take over first place in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference with a 4-1 league mark.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Melanie Schaefer (Platteville, fr.) - was set a pair of new freshman records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard freestyle at last Thursday’s home dual meet with Dubuque Hempstead. Scahefer won the 200 IM in a new record time of 2:25.9, eclipsing current assistant coach Liz (Von Feldt) Peters’ 1996 record of 2:25.99. Schaefer finished second in the 100 free, but nipped current teammate Claire Friederick’s 2009 record of 58.52 by just one hundredth of a second (58.51).

GIRLS GOLF

Naomi Black (Darlington, sr.) - earned medalist honors in both her golf outings last week, posting a round of 48 at Lancaster on Thursday, Sept. 8, and carding a 45 at Darlington on Monday, Sept. 12. Both efforts led the Redbirds to first-place finishes at SWAL-SWC triangulars. Black has snared medalist or co-medalist honors in three of the Redbirds’ nine matches