IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the weekly volleyball honors for the first week of the 2026 season.

Offensive Player of the Week
Kellen Dorotik, Sr., OPP, Rice
Dorotik hit at a .368 clip for Rice during a 3-0 opening weekend, recording 43 kills over 13 sets to average 3.31 kills per set. Dorotik hit .429 with 15 kills in a 3-1 win against Georgia State and .370 with 15 kills in a 3-1 triumph over Mississippi State.

Defensive Player of the Week
Alessandra Romo, So., L, UNT
Romo averaged 4.33 digs per set over the opening week to lead the conference and power UNT to a 3-0 start. Romo had 20 digs in a 3-1 win over CSU Bakersfield and added 23 digs in a four-set triumph against Lamar.

Setter of the Week
Kaia Mateo, Sr., Rice
Mateo averaged 11.08 assists per set to lead all setters in the American during the first week of the season, helping Rice hit .261 as a team in its three wins. Mateo had 48 assists in five sets against South Alabama, 43 assists in four sets versus Georgia State and 53 assists in a four-set win against Mississippi State.

Freshman of the Week
Ashlyn Seay, OH, Rice
Seay hit a combined .460 across the first three matches of the season, averaging 3.27 kills per set. Seay hit .667 with 21 kills in a 3-1 win over Mississippi State to close the opening weekend.

Honorable Mention
Ellie Pate, Sr., OH, East Carolina
Pate hit a combined .280 over three wins for ECU, highlighted by a .415 effort with 20 kills in a sweep of Hampton.

Abigail Schlueter, Sr., L/DS, Memphis
Schlueter averaged 4.25 digs per set during the opening week, going over the 20-dig plateau twice with 21 digs in four sets versus Lipscomb and 22 digs in a five-set match with College of Charleston.

Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, So., S, South Florida
Jioshvili-Ravva averaged 9.36 assists per set and posted double-doubles against Eastern Kentucky (45 assists, 10 digs) and Utah State (34 assists, 10 digs).

Amelia Wass de Czege, Jr., MB, South Florida
Wass de Czege led the conference with 1.67 blocks per set over the season’s first three matches, registering a career-high seven total blocks against No. 3 Kentucky.

Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
Hanson hit .270 during a season opening sweep to go along with 1.23 blocks per set. Hanson hit .333 with nine kills and five blocks against New Mexico State and .318 with 10 kills versus UTEP.