PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly volleyball honors for the week ending on Nov. 12.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Abbie Lehman * Sr. * MB * Wichita State20
Lehman earns a weekly American honor for the fourth straight week after leading Wichita State
20 to its 16th consecutive win, which is tied for the second-longest winning streak in conference history. The senior middle blocker had 12 kills in each match over the weekend, averaging a .457 hitting percentage with 4.00 kills, 5.25 points and 2.00 blocks per set. She hit .524 with just one attacking error in a 3-0 win over ECU on Friday and carried the energy into Sunday when she hit .400 with nine blocks against Cincinnati. With their two weekend wins, the Shockers knocked both ECU and Cincinnati out of contention for the league title.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Izzy Rapacz * Sr. * OH/RS * Temple
Rapacz served as a defensive threat at both the net, as well as in the back row, as Temple outlasted two league opponents last week to remain in contention for the conference title. Rapacz put down eight blocks and bumped 20 digs in a five set win over SMU on Thursday. She also chipped in with 14 kills to earn a double-double. On Saturday, she added seven more stuffs and had another 21 digs to defeat Tulsa, 3-2. Again, she recorded 12 kills for her second double-double of the week. Rapacz amounted averages of 1.50 blocks, 4.10 digs and 2.60 kills per set through the Owls’ two matches.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Kia Bright * R-Sr. * OH * UCF
Bright had a strong offensive outing to lead her team to two sweep victories over the weekend. She registered her conference-leading 18th double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs in a win over Tulane and pounded down 19 kills with seven digs, while hitting .410 to guide the Knights to a 3-0 win over Houston. Bright averaged 4.83 kills and 5.58 points per set, while hitting .328.
Doris Carter * Fr. * OH * USF
Carter has emerged as one of the league’s top rookies this season and exceled over the weekend with a .311 hitting percentage, along with 3.86 kills and 4.14 digs per set. While hitting .361, Carter earned her first career double-double with 19 kills and 19 digs in a 3-1 win over Tulane on Sunday.
Kendall Patterson * So. * S * SMU
Patterson paced the SMU hitters, assisting on 106 kills over the weekend to help the team remain in the conversation for The American title. The sophomore had 60 assists through five sets against Temple, dumping three kills over the net for a .429 hitting percentage with four blocks. She then had a double-double of 46 assists and 10 digs in a four-set win over UConn, adding two kills and two stuffs to the box score.
Dana Westfield * R-Fr. * OH * Temple
Westfield was pivotal to the Owls’ offense in their two wins last week. She had 15 kills in both of Temple’s matches with just five total errors on 95 swings. Averaging 3.00 kills and 3.35 points per set, she chipped in on defense with eight digs and six blocks.
Rachel Moore * Jr. * OH/MB * Tulsa
Moore played a key role at the net through the Golden Hurricane’s nine sets last week, averaging 3.67 kills and 4.00 points per set with a .419 hitting percentage. She had nine kills with just two errors for a .333 hitting percentage in a 3-1 win over UConn on Thursday. On Saturday, she hammered down 24 kills with a .463 hitting percentage in five sets against Temple. She had six blocks in the two matches.