SILVER CITY, N.M. — Western New Mexico University sophomore middle hitter Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)) has been named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant stretch at the net that helped the Mustangs go 3-0 in conference play.

Posthumus totaled 19 blocks across wins over UT Permian Basin, DBU and Texas Woman's, anchoring a Western New Mexico defense that continued to make its presence felt at the net. The sophomore also delivered offensively throughout the week, finishing with 30 kills on a .367 hitting percentage while adding 14 digs, two service aces and an assist.

Western New Mexico opened the stretch with a straight-set road victory over UT Permian Basin. Posthumus finished the match with 11 kills and three blocks, totaling 13 points as the Mustangs earned the 3-0 sweep. Her impact showed throughout the match, including a third-set stretch in which she recorded a kill and combined with Isabella Brewer for a block as WNMU turned a one-point deficit into a lead on its way to the sweep.

Posthumus followed that performance with one of her strongest defensive outings of the season in Western New Mexico's four-set victory over DBU at Drag's Court. She recorded nine blocks and a season-high eight digs as the Mustangs handed the Patriots their first Lone Star Conference loss of the season and snapped DBU's eight-match winning streak. Western New Mexico finished the match with 14 total blocks and held the Patriots to a .126 hitting percentage in the 3-1 victory.

The Mustangs closed the week with a five-set battle against Texas Woman's, and Posthumus once again made an impact in key moments. She finished with seven total blocks, including four solo blocks, while adding 10 kills, five digs and two service aces for a team-high 17.5 points. With WNMU facing a 24-22 deficit in the fourth set, Posthumus delivered back-to-back service aces during a four-point run that forced a deciding fifth set. She then put the match away with consecutive kills to give the Mustangs a 15-12 win in the fifth.

The 3-0 week pushed Western New Mexico to 11-7 overall and 5-2 in Lone Star Conference play.

Posthumus' latest honor continues a strong start to her second season in Silver City. She leads the Lone Star Conference with 83 total blocks and entered the season as one of the conference's defensive Players to Watch.

The Lelystad, Netherlands, native has been a consistent presence for the Mustangs since arriving at WNMU. As a freshman in 2025, Posthumus recorded 145 kills while hitting .294 through the portion of the season reflected in WNMU's archived statistics, establishing herself as an immediate contributor in the middle. Her debut season resulted in LSC All-Conference Second Team and LSC All-Freshman Team honors, along with an LSC Freshman of the Week selection.

Now in her sophomore campaign, Posthumus has continued to build on that foundation. Her ability to control the net defensively while providing another attacking option for Western New Mexico has helped establish the 6-foot-3 middle hitter as a key piece of the Mustangs' lineup.

Posthumus and the Mustangs return to action Friday, Oct. 9, when Western New Mexico travels to Canyon, Texas, to face West Texas A&M at 5 p.m. MT.

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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).