Helping the Seward County Lady Saints to their first Jayhawk West Championship in seven seasons this week, Seward County sophomore Maritza Mesa has been named the Jayhawk West Defensive Player of the Week in a league release on Tuesday.

Usually the Lady Saints offensive star, Mesa came up big on the defensive end this week, racking up 6.00 digs per set on the back row while sending back nearly a block per set on the front row as well.  Wednesday against Barton she had a career high 27 digs and also had 3 blocks and backed that up with 15 digs and 3 more blocks in a sweep of Colby to give Seward a share of the Jayhawk West Conference Championship.

Mesa and the Lady Saints ride a seven game win streak into the Region VI Tournament which begins on Wednesday in the Greenhouse at 6:00.