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.
 
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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