Following in the footsteps of volleyball teammates Cheryl Hegemann, Leanne Felsing and Melissa David, sophomore libero Becky Peters was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week.

Peters, ranked No. 14 on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s volleyball all-time Division I list for digs, has just gotten her 249th dig for the fall volleyball season as of Oct. 14 — still early in the season.

In her career, she has now accumulated 766 digs, and led the Panthers this past week as UWM won three matches against Marquette, Butler and Wright State, moving them into first in the Horizon League (14-5 overall, 6-1 Horizon).

“It was great, I hadn’t gotten it all year it was nice to have that this week, it really goes to show that I have a great team around me and we had a great weekend, which helped with getting the honors during the week,” Peters said.

The commitment that comes with playing volleyball for a Division I school is demanding. Classes, games, practices and the pressures of the jersey come with the territory.

“It basically controls my life,” Peters said. “We practice a lot, it really keeps me busy, but I really like it a lot and I love competing. School comes first but volleyball is a very close second.”

In any first-place team, the stars need to align to be successful, from personal achievements to chemistry on and off the court, says Peters, who lives with three of her teammates.

Coaches Kathy Litzau, Susie Johnson and Rocky Koenig all previously played for college teams in their day and know what it is like to be in these players’ shoes.

“I get along with my team and coaches really, really well,” Peters said. “I am with them a lot and a really like it, and my coaches are great, they are so easy to work with and are very considerate of what is going on in your life. They both used to be players so they know what its like to be on a team and need a down day or a break.”

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