DALLAS – WKU’s Kaira Knox, Kate Rush and Eliza McKnight, along with Sam Houston’s Chelsea Butler earned the Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Week honors.

CUSA Offensive Player of the Week – Kaira Knox, WKU – So. – OPP – Nolensville, Tenn.
Knox led the WKU offensive attack to two wins on the road at NM State. She totaled 40 kills for an average of 4.44 per set on a .378 hitting clip. The sophomore also added 14 digs, two blocks and an assist. Knox totaled 22 kills in a reverse sweep on Saturday, matching a career-best along with eight digs and a block. She posted 18 kills in a four-set win on Friday along with six digs and a block.
 
CUSA Defensive Player of the Week – Chelsea Butler, Sam Houston – Jr. – MB – Huntsville, Texas
Butler led Sam Houston with 14 blocks, averaging 1.75 per set in the Bearkats 2-0 weekend at Kennesaw State. She posted six blocks including one solo in a 3-1 win on Friday. Butler followed that performance up with eight block assists on Saturday. The Huntsville, Texas, native also added 25 kills with a .409 hitting percentage for the weekend.
 
CUSA Setter of the Week – Kate Rush, WKU – So. – Georgetown, Ky.
Rush was instrumental in WKU's pair of road wins against NM State. She finished with 110 assists for an average of 12.22 per set. She dished out 47 assists in a four-set win Friday. On Saturday, Rush set a new career high with 63 assists in the Hilltoppers reverse sweep. She compiled a .466 setting mark, while adding two service aces, seven kills and three blocks on the weekend.
 
CUSA Freshman of the Week – Eliza McKnight, WKU – OH/MB – Brentwood, Tenn.
McKnight helped lead WKU to two road wins over NM State, finishing with 22 total kills for an average of 2.44 per set and a .568 hitting clip. The freshman compiled a clean sheet in a four-set win on Friday with 12 kills on 20 attempts with no errors and a .600 hitting mark. On Saturday, she recorded 10 kills and two blocks in a reverse sweep.
 
2026 CUSA Offensive Players of the Week
A31    Laney Daniell, Liberty
S7      Ashley Herman, NM State
S14    Jenna Otts, Liberty
S21    Sophia Henry, MTSU
S28    Kaira Knox, WKU  
  
2026 CUSA Defensive Players of the Week
A31    Michaela Dlouhá, MTSU
S7      Brooke Eslinger, Missouri State
S14    Tayler Baron, WKU
S21    Alison Bierwagen, Liberty
S28    Chelsea Butler, Sam Houston    
 
2026 CUSA Setters of the Week
A31    Kate Rush, WKU
S7      Kate Rush, WKU
S14    Hannah Gardner, Missouri State
S21    Brenlin Garlitz & Lauren Pyle, Sam Houston
S28    Kate Rush, WKU      
 
2026 CUSA Freshmen of the Week
A31    Marianne Garcia, MTSU
S7      Alexis Sowers, Kennesaw State
S14    Lana Sesar, FIU
S21    Halle Rillie, Missouri State
S28    Eliza McKnight, WKU