DALLAS – Liberty’s
Carly O’Brien, WKU’s
Izzy Van De Wiele and
Callie Bauer, along with Sam Houston’s
Chloe Monson earned Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Week honors.
CUSA Offensive Player of the Week – Carly O’Brien, Liberty – So. – OH – Pauline, S.C.
O'Brien sparked Liberty to a 4-0 week, averaging 4.44 kills (.288), 0.33 aces, 2.89 digs and 0.22 blocks per set. She was instrumental in Liberty's three five-set victories on the week, especially during the team's 3-2 win over Houston, the Lady Flames' first-ever win over a Big 12 opponent. O'Brien also posted double-doubles in all four matches. On Monday, she scored a match-high 19 kills and added two aces, 11 digs and one solo block in a 3-2 win over Radford. In Friday's 3-0 sweep of McNeese, the Pauline, S.C. native, totaled 11 kills and 13 digs. O'Brien scored a career-high and program 25-point rally-scoring record 31 kills (.308) in a 3-2 win at Houston on Friday night, adding three aces and 18 digs. On Saturday, the junior outside sent down a match-high 19 kills to go along with 10 digs in a 3-2 win over North Alabama. Her 31 kills on Friday at Houston were the most by any CUSA player in a match so far this season.
CUSA Defensive Player of the Week – Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU– Jr. – MB – Bettendorf, Iowa
Van De Wiele spent the weekend leading a team ranked in the top 50 in blocking to yet another perfect, 3-0, nine-set sweep of a weekend. Van De Wiele was responsible for 12 of WKU's 28 total blocks including three in the 3-0 win over (RV) Indiana that snapped their 8-0 undefeated streak. Through the three matches, Van De Wiele also collected a total of 21 kills and posted a .381 hitting percentage. Her best performance was a five-block effort against Bradley that included a solo block.
CUSA Setter of the Week – Callie Bauer, WKU– R-Sr. – Hudson, Mich.
Bauer earns her second consecutive CUSA Setter of the Week honor after leading the Hilltoppers to a .306 hitting percentage with 91 total assists, securing sweeps over Bradley, (RV) Indiana and Austin Peay. Bauer posted an average of 10.11 assists per set over the weekend and leads the conference with 9.25 assists per set. Overall, Bauer also contributed 19 digs, three blocks and two aces through three games.
CUSA Freshman of the Week – Chloe Monson, Sam Houston – OH – San Antonio, Texas
Monson was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Bearkat Classic after playing a pivotal role in Sam Houston’s 2-1 record over the weekend. She had a total of 57 kills, averaging 4.07 kills per set with a .244 hitting clip. The freshman outside has now reached 20 plus kills in four of the last five matches for the Bearkats and ranks second in CUSA with 4.02 kills per set. She put up two double-doubles on the week, in a 3-2 win over Houstin Christian, she posted 22 kills and 14 digs. On Friday, she had 21 kills and 15 digs, hitting .390 for the match.
2025 CUSA Offensive Players of the Week
S1 Paige Overcash, Liberty
S8 Paige Overcash, Liberty
S15 Paige Overcash, Liberty
S22 Carly O’Brien, Liberty
2025 CUSA Defensive Players of the Week
S1 Mandi Morioka, FIU
S8 Luci Wilkinson, Jax State
S15 Faith Young, WKU
S22 Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU
2025 CUSA Setters of the Week
S1 Mattie Gantt & Kalia Kohler, UTEP
S8 Kalia Kohler, UTEP
S15 Callie Bauer, WKU
S22 Callie Bauer, WKU
2025 CUSA Freshmen of the Week
S1 Kaira Knox, WKU
S8 Peyton McKee, Missouri State
S15 Kaira Knox, WKU
S22 Chloe Monson, Sam Houston