Ottumwa -- As a key component in Indian Hills' current 20-match win streak, sophomore setter Yanjiao Zhao has been named the Division I player of the week by both the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. The dual recognition comes after a week in which the Warriors won five straight matches, including a 3-2 victory against No. 4 Iowa Western. A native of Mongolia, Zhao averaged 12.44 assists and 2.56 digs per set in the IHCC home defeat of Iowa Western.

For the season, the 5'10" Zhao has 1201 assists, an average of 11.44 per set. With her 1442 assists as a freshman, Zhao has moved into third place in the alltime assists list at Indian Hills, trailing only Jill Hoeck and Melanie Hackbarth.

Zhao is tied for the team lead in sets played, having appeared in 105 of IHCC's 110 sets this season. She is averaging 1.84 digs per set and has 34 blocks and 15 service aces.

Zhao is the second IHCC player in the past two years to be named an NJCAA player of the week. Tamara Merseli was awarded the national honor in 2015.