WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University sophomore All-OAC libero Lauren Gardner (Avon/Saint Joseph Academy) was selected as the Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career.

Gardner helped guide BW (10-8) to a 1-1 record last week in OAC play, falling to the University of Mount Union in four sets and defeating Wilmington College in straights sets in the Volley for the Cure match, 25-10, 25-15, and 25-17.

Averaging a league-high 8.43 digs per set on the week, Gardner totaled 59 digs, six assists, and three service aces. In the four-set loss to Mount Union, Gardner totaled a match-high and career-high of 39 digs, averaging 9.75 digs per set in the match. In the sweep of Wilmington, she tallied another 20 digs, while not recording a single reception error on the week on 36 attempts.

This year, Gardner has so far posted 357 digs, fourth-most in the OAC, and is second in the OAC and third in the nation in digs per set, averaging 6.26. She has also totaled 47 assists and 16 aces. In her career, she has racked up 892 digs, 138 assists, and 49 aces.

Gardner was awarded OAC Defensive Player of the Week on September 12 of this season and earned the accolade twice last year, on October 4, 2021 and October 18, 2021.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action Wednesday, October 12 as they travel crosstown to face rival John Carroll University in a big OAC matchup. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. on Mike Moran Court inside the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.