PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly volleyball honors for the week ending Sunday, Sept. 15.
Offensive Player of the Week
Jordan Thompson * R-Sr. * RS/OH * Cincinnati
Thompson was the top offensive player for Cincinnati in a 2-1 week at the NKU Invitational, leading all American Athletic Conference players with 80 kills and 5.71 kills per set last week. Thompson opened the tournament with 18 kills and seven digs against Notre Dame, adding in three block assists in the four-set win. She contributed 27 kills and 12 digs for a double-double in a comeback win against Ball State the following day. Thompson saved her best for last, posting a conference season-high 35 kills along with 14 digs against Northern Kentucky for a second straight double-double. After nine matches this season, Thompson leads The American with 180 kills and 5.29 kills per set.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brandee Markwith * R-Jr. * DS/L * East Carolina
Markwith helped East Carolina to a 4-0 week which included a road win at NC State. She posted a conference-high 87 digs and averaged 5.44 digs per set for the week. Markwith collected 32 digs in the five-set victory over the Wolfpack at Reynolds Coliseum on Sept. 10. She tallied 12 digs in the Pirates’ sweep of George Washington, came up with 17 digs in a 3-0 win over Norfolk State and capped the weekend with 26 digs in a five-set triumph over USC Upstate that clinched the Pirate Invitational title. Markwith committed just three reception errors in 71 chances for the week.
Weekly Honor Roll
Katie Karbo * Sr. * DS/L * Houston
Led the Cougars with 74 digs for the week, an average of 5.69 digs per set, and was named the Best Defender of the Baylor Invitational; posted a season-high 32 digs against Lamar and added 18 digs against No. 5 Baylor and 24 digs versus No. RV Tennessee
Tyler Lindgren * So. * S * Temple
Earned MVP honors at the Cherry and White Challenge by leading Temple to a 3-0 mark that featured 11.33 assists per set and 2.11 digs per frame; logged 34 assists against Ohio, 33 assists in the win over Ohio and 35 helpers in a triumph over American University
Montana Watts * Sr. * L * SMU
Averaged 5.00 digs per set for the Mustangs during a 2-1 performance at the Missouri State Invitational, racking up a team-high 45 digs over nine sets; recorded 19 digs in a sweep of No. RV Dayton, 13 digs against host Missouri State and 13 digs versus Weber State
Taylor Horsfall * Sr. * DS/L * Tulsa
Named to the Tulsa Invitational All-Tournament Team after helping the Golden Hurricane to a 3-1 record last week, and led all Tulsa players in total digs with 76 (5.07 digs per set) and The American with 10 service aces; posted 13 digs and two aces against Houston Baptist, 14 digs and four aces versus UTSA and 24 digs and four aces in a win against SIUE
McKenna Melville * So. * OH * UCF
Led UCF with 59 kills and added seven aces and 37 digs in three matches at the Redbird Classic in Normal, Illinois, which featured two matches against ranked foes; logged a team-high 21 kills and added 12 digs against No. 7 Marquette, posted 21 kills and 11 digs in an upset of No. 14 Illinois and closed the weekend with 17 kills, four aces and 14 digs against Illinois State