IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly volleyball awards for the week ending Sunday, September 4.
Offensive Player of the Week
McKenna Melville, Gr., OH, UCF
Melville began the season with a bang as she helped lead the Knights to a 2-0 weekend with wins over Kansas State and Syracuse. She ended the weekend with 6.13 points per set and 5.75 kills per set while hitting a combined .318 in the two matches. Melville also became the second American player to have 2,000 career-kills and is the only active member of the 2,000-kill club in the NCAA. In the 3-2 win over Kansas State, she finished with 27 kills, while collected 19 kills in the sweep over Syracuse.
Defensive Player of the Week
Natalie Foster, So., MB, Wichita State
Foster had a dominant weekend at the net as the sophomore middle finished with 1.57 blocks per set for the Shockers. She had six blocks against Omaha and added five more in the sweep over North Colorado. Foster was also impressive on the offensive end, hitting .528 with 3.85 points per set and 3.00 kills per set in the two matches.
Weekly Honor Roll
Kate Georgiades, Jr., L, Houston
Georgiades anchored the defense for the Cougars as Houston went 3-0 on the weekend. She finished with 5.36 digs per set and added two more 20-dig performances. She also added two aces. The 3-0 weekend also helped Head Coach David Rehr collect his 600th career win.
Abbie Jackson, Sr., OH, Houston
Jackson put on an impressive display on offense this past week, finishing with 5.09 points per set and 4.64 kills per set as the Cougars went 3-0 on the weekend. She finished with 26 kills against Oregon State while hitting .313.
Jadyn Bauss, Sr, L, SMU
Bauss held down the defense during a trio of sweeps for the Mustangs over the weekend. She finished with 4.00 digs per set and led the team with a .931 reception percentage. The senior added five assists.
Marieke van der Mark, Gr., OPP, SMU
Van der Mark collected All-Tournament honors at the Islanders Classic over the weekend as the Mustangs picked up three sweeps. The opposite finished with 3.11 points per set and 2.67 kills per set while hitting a combined .429 in three matches.
Marta Cvitkovic, Jr., OH, South Florida
Cvitkovic helped lead the Bulls to a 3-0 weekend, averaging 3.41 points per set on .276 hitting. Against Maryland, she finished with 17 kills while hitting .419.