PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly volleyball honors for the week ending on November 4.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Thompson * R-Jr. * OH/RS * Cincinnati
Thompson collects her sixth weekly award this season and 10th of her career on the heels of another record-breaking weekend. After knocking down 50 kills through six sets, averaging 8.33 kills and 8.58 points per set, Thompson became the conference’s all-time leader in single-season kills (660) and points (729.5). She also pummeled 26 kills in a 3-0 win over Tulsa, which are the most recorded in a three-set match in league history. Competing inside the walls of the newly renovated Fifth Third Arena for the first time this year, Thompson, the nation’s leader in kills and points, helped her team hit over .300 through two sweep victories, including 2017 champion Wichita State and third-place Tulsa. She fueled the Bearcats’ hitting efficiency with a .587 clip through their 2-0 weekend.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Pingel * Sr. * L * UCF
Pingel collects her fourth conference Defensive Player of the Week honor after averaging 6.71 digs per set with a .967 reception percentage. Her back row efforts guided UCF to another weekend sweep, extending the Knights’ winning streak to 19-straight matches while remaining perfect in conference play at 13-0. She had 24 digs at UConn and 23 at Temple to total 47 digs over the weekend.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
McKenna Melville * Fr. * OH * UCF
Melville owns a conference-high 18 double-doubles this year following another spectacular weekend on both sides of the court. The freshman outside hitter averaged 5.43 kills, 1.43 blocks and 3.00 digs per set on a .304 hitting percentage through two road wins. She had a double-double in each match and tallied 10 blocks at the net, while registering a perfect reception percentage on 71 attempts in the back row.
Elizabeth Kline * Sr. * L/DS * UConn
Kline paced UConn’s back line with 5.86 digs per set, reaching double figures in two matches over the weekend. The senior libero had 26 digs without a reception error against first-place UCF on Thursday and bumped 15 digs in a four-set win against USF to help the Huskies sweep the season series with the Bulls.
Iman McGary * Sr. * OH * UConn
McGary averaged 4.50 points and 3.86 kills per set, collecting double-digit kills and three service aces over the weekend. She hit over .250 while knocking down 12 kills and three blocks against first-place UCF on Thursday and earned a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs in a 3-1 win over USF on Saturday.
Silvia Pertens * So. * OH * Houston
Pertens led her side in kills and points to boost Houston’s offense over the weekend. She reached double-digit kills twice, averaging 3.43 per set on a .286 hitting clip. Pertens hit .393 and tied her career-high with 14 kills to guide the Cougars to a 3-1 win against Memphis on Sunday.
Dayna Kern * Sr. * MH * Tulane
Kern played a crucial role at the net through a pair of sweeps, as the Green Wave continue to roll on a nine-match winning streak, moving into a tie for third place in American standings with Tulsa. Kern hit .417 with 16 kills and 11 stuffs, averaging 1.83 blocks per set. She had eight kills while hitting .389 in a 3-0 win at Houston and recorded nine blocks and eight kills without an error on Sunday for a .444 hitting clip.