PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly volleyball honors for the week ending Aug. 28.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Izzy Rapacz • Jr. • OH/RS • Temple
Rapacz earned the MVP honor at the Temple Invitational while leading the Owls to a 2-0 record and winning the tournament while compiling a .355 hitting percentage and averaging 4.57 kills per set, good for third in the conference. The junior led the Owls with 18 kills in their first match against Northern Arizona, a 2015 NCAA Tournament team. Rapacz also added six digs and five blocks against NAU. Against Hampton Rapacz had 14 kills with eight digs, five aces and four blocks.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elyse Panick • Sr. • RS • USF
Panick was named the MVP of the Charlotte Invitational helping the Bulls to a 3-0 record with 50 digs and 12 blocks. Panick averaged 5.00 digs per set, which puts her second in the conference and her 1.20 blocks per set is good enough for seventh among conference players. The senior had a career-high 21 digs in the win over Mercer and a career-high five aces in the victory over Charlotte.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Kia Bright • RS-Jr. • OH • UCF
Posted two double-doubles over the weekend against Kent State and No. 17 Florida State. Finished the Holiday Inn Orlando East UCF Area Invitational with 43 kills and 42 digs while hitting .290 and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Jade Strawberry • Sr. • OH • UConn
Had 31 kills helping the Huskies go 2-0 over the weekend. Had a double-double (14 kills and 12 digs) against Syracuse. Averaged 3.88 kills per set and 2.62 digs per set.
Sydney Darden • Sr. • OH • East Carolina
Named MVP of the Bucknell Invitational averaging 3.80 kills per set while hitting .289. Posted a double-double (17 kills, 14 digs) in a 3-1 win over Bucknell.
Sarah Strasner • Sr. • MH • Tulane
Hit .436 with five service aces and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Southern Miss Invitational. Led Tulane to its first road victory since 2014
Dakota Hampton • Sr. • OH • USF
Posted a team-high 42 kills and was second on the team with 44 digs for the Bulls this weekend. Set a career-high 23 digs against Mercer.