BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University junior outside/middle hitter Lily Welch has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week.

The MVP of the the MASCAC Tournament. Welch averaged 18 kills and posted a .413 hitting percentage during the Bears tournament title run. The Hanson, Massachuetts product also averaged 1.5 aces, 24 receptions, 14.5 digs and five blocks.

Welch notched 17 kills, two aces, 32 receptions, 14 digs and six assisted blocks in a 3-2 semifinal round win over Worcester State, and recorded a career-high 19 kills to go along with an ace, 16 receptions, 15 digs and four blocks (one solo) in a 3-1 championship game victory over Framingham State as the Bears captured their second straight MASCAC Tournament title and 12th overall.

Through 21 matches this season, Welch has amassed career highs of 234 kills, 31 aces and 262 digs to go along with 318 receptions and 46 blocks (four solo). She presently leads the MASCAC in hitting percentage (.313) and ranks second among the conference leaders in both kills per set (3.12) and scoring (3.87 pps) as well as sixth in blocks per set (0.61) and seventh in digs per set (3.49).

In 61 matches over her first three seasons with the Bears, Welch has produced 554 kills, 60 aces, 569 digs and 122 blocks (28 solo).

The MASCAC Offensive Player of the Weekk honor marks the fourth of Welch's career while the defensive player of the week accolade is her first.

The BSU volleball team is currently 17-4 on the season. The Bears went 8-0 in MASCAC regular season play as they earned ther 19th conference regular season title and first since 2008.

By virtue of the MASCAC Tournament championship, Bridgewater advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second straight season and 12th time in program history. The Bears will take on NESCAC champion Tufts University (22-5) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Tufts' Cousens Gymnasium & Tye Court.