PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference announced weekly volleyball honors on Monday, with USF sophomore Erin Fairs named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week and Houston freshman Sarita Mikals named American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week. The honor is the second recognition of the year for each player, with Fairs earning Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week.
Fairs repeated as conference Player of the Week with a pair of double-doubles as USF picked up two road wins against strong opponents. In a five-set win over SMU, Fairs recorded 13 kills and 13 digs, along with three total blocks, two aces and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Mustangs. The sophomore followed that performance with 18 kills, 23 digs and four blocks as the Bulls left Texas with a 3-1 victory over Houston. Fairs hit .273 over the two matches, totaling 31 kills, 36 digs and seven total blocks as USF extended their winning streak to three games, all coming on the road.
Mikals earned her second Freshman of the Week honors of the season, being recognized for the first time since the season’s second week. She had double-figure kills in each of her three matches this week, and has now recorded double-digit kills 18 times this season. After opening the week with 10 kills in a win over Prairie View A&M, Mikals led the Cougars to a 3-0 sweep of UCF by notching her eighth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 12 digs on a .302 hitting percentage. For the week, Mikals had 36 kills in 11 sets, and added 22 digs, six aces and six total blocks.
Honor Roll
Kaiti Waters, Houston, Jr., MB
Helped Houston to a 2-1 record on the week by recording 20 kills on a team-best .267 hitting percentage, along with 13 total blocks.
Emily Juhl, Louisville, Sr., OH
Led the Cardinals in hitting against Cincinnati with 13 kills on a .333 hitting percentage to preserve their unbeaten league record, and recorded 12 kills and six total blocks against Wichita State.
Lauren Hawkins, Memphis, Jr., MB/RS
Posted double-digit kills in all three matches, including 18 against both Tennessee State and UConn. Also had 22 total blocks including nine each against the Huskies and Tigers.
Caroline Young, SMU, Jr., OH
Recorded 26 kills in 8 sets this week, including 16 kills and 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season in a five-set loss to USF. Hit .455 against UCF with no errors in 22 attacks in a three-set win.
Gabriella Matautia, Temple, Sr., RS
Led Temple with 14 kills in a three-set sweep of UConn, and tied for the match-high with 10 kills in a sweep of Rutgers. Finished the week with 24 kills, 13 digs, and a .350 hitting percentage in two Owls victories.