IRVING, Texas – WKU’s
Rachel Anderson and Rice’s
Lee Ann Cunningham both took home Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for the second week in a row. Lady Topper veteran
Mary Martin earned Setter of the Week after a standout performance on the program’s Senior Day. FIU’s
Abbie Hughes was awarded with Freshman of the Week. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World Headwear.
Complete Release (PDF)
C-USA Offensive Player of the Week – Rachel Anderson, WKU, Sr., Sturgis, Mich.
Anderson went all out in her final weekend of volleyball in E.A. Diddle Arena. The senior bolstered the stat sheet with 33 kills on a .400 hitting clip, 4.94 points per set, 15 blocks and four digs in two conference victories over FIU and second-place Florida Atlantic. On Friday, the Michigan product racked up 18 kills and eight blocks to defeat FIU in five sets. Anderson was consistent in her attack against the Owls on Senior Day, powering 15 kills and seven blocks in the 3-1 win. Her lone ace served as the final point she’d ever contribute for the Lady Toppers in Bowling Green. The all-around performance lifted WKU to its third and fourth-straight victories heading into the final stretch the regular season.
C-USA Defensive Player of the Week – Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice, Jr., Louisville, Ky.
Rice remains undefeated in C-USA play for the first time in program history following this weekend’s wins over Charlotte and UAB. Cunningham netted her second-straight weekly defensive honor behind 4.57 digs per set and just one reception error. The junior totaled 14 digs on Friday to pair with four assists, then turned around on Sunday to grab 18 more digs and another five assists. The defensive stalwart played a role in helping Rice claim its first C-USA Regular-Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the league tournament.
C-USA Setter of the Week – Mary Martin, WKU, Sr., Lexington, Ky.
Martin saw the floor for the first time in four matches during a start on Sunday’s Senior Day and produced some of her career’s best work. The veteran dished out 47 assists (11.75 assists/set) in the 3-1 win over Florida Atlantic to help her team out-hit the league’s top offensive threat with a .264 attack percentage. The Lady Toppers found the floor on nearly half of Martin’s sets. The Lexington, Kentucky, native manufactured her first double-double of the season with 11 digs in the match and also picked up three kills, an ace and one block.
C-USA Freshman of the Week – Abbie Hughes, FIU, Fr., Mason, Ohio
Hughes registered a pair of 40+-assist outings over the Panthers’ 1-1 weekend. The newcomer totaled 82 helpers at an average 10.25 per set, including 42 at WKU and another 40 at Marshall. The Ohio product garnered her career’s eighth double-double against the Lady Toppers with 10 digs in the effort. She also added four kills and two blocks. On Sunday, Hughes’ assists found the floor at a 52 percent efficiency as her offense hit nearly .400 in the sweep of the Thundering Herd.
2018 C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
A27 Valerie Valerian, North Texas
S3 Abby Carlile, UAB
S10 Rachel Anderson, WKU
S17 Nicole Lennon, Rice | Sophia Cerino, WKU
S24 Massiel Matos, Florida Atlantic
O1 Nicole Lennon, Rice
O8 Kylie Grandy, Southern Miss
O15 Hannah Froeschl, UTSA
O22 Bailey Mason, Middle Tennessee
O29 Rachel Anderson, WKU
N5 Rachel Anderson, WKU
2018 C-USA Defensive Player of the Week
A27 Kara Teal, UTSA
S3 Grace Morgan, Rice
S10 Victoria Young, UAB
S17 Amber Weber, Marshall
S24 Lina Bernier, FIU
O1 Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
O8 Sarah Bell, Southern Miss
O15 Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
O22 Jordyn Williams, North Texas
O29 Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
N5 Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
2018 C-USA Setter of the Week
A27 Karley York, North Texas
S3 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
S10 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
S17 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
S24 Taylor Bebout, WKU
O1 Abbie Hughes, FIU
O8 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
O15 Amanda Gonzales, UTSA
O22 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
O29 Taylor Bebout, WKU
N5 Mary Martin, WKU
2018 C-USA Freshman of the Week
A27 Rhett Robinson, North Texas | Kirby Smith, UTSA
S3 Nya Steele, Charlotte
S10 Katie Isenbarger, WKU
S17 Gabrielle Coulter, Marshall
S24 Lauren Matthews, WKU
O1 Carly Graham, Rice
O8 Anota Adekunle, Rice
O15 Hannah Lopez, UTSA
O22 Rhett Robinson, North Texas
O29 Tyra Galloway, Charlotte
N5 Abbie Hughes, FIU