TicketSmarter WAC Volleyball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Abilene Christian middle blocker Breanna Box and NM State Libero Darian Markham have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of September 6 through September 12. Additionally, UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano has earned Freshman of the Week honors.
Box, a junior from Wichita Falls, Texas, was a dominant force in the Wildcats' 2-1 weekend at the North Texas Challenge. She notched an impressive 31 total kills on 51 swings while recording only one hitting error across three matches. On the week, Box averaged 3.10 kills per set on .588 hitting, including a career-high .611 hitting percentage in a win over Jackson State on Friday. She also earned all-tournament honors for the weekend.
Markham, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, helped lead the Aggies to a perfect weekend as she posted double-digit digs in three-straight sweeps. She finished the week averaging 4.89 digs per set, helping her claim a spot on the Colonel Challenge All-Tournament team. Her week was highlighted by a 20-dig showing on Friday in a win over Western Carolina. On the season, Markham ranks second in the conference in total digs (162) and fifth in digs per set (4.63).
Emiliano, a setter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, helped lead the Vaqueros to a 3-1 record in the UTRGV tournament as she was a force on both offense and defense. She posted 10.67 assists per set and added 11 total kills and seven service aces. Emiliano also averaged 3.47 digs per set in addition to four total blocks across four matches. Her three double-doubles were also tied with SFA's Ariana Pagan for most in the WAC last week.
Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Christine Graf average 3.18 kills per set on .386 hitting to lead the Wolverines to an undefeated weekend… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz continued her dominance as she posted 4.36 kills per set over the weekend… Grand Canyon's Annabelle Kubinski averaged 2.33 kills per set on a strong .453 hitting out of the middle for the Lopes last week… Lamar's Hannah Waters recorded 4.91 assists per set, including a pair of 20-plus assist performances over the week… NM State's Shaney Lipscomb hit .368 and averaged 3.33 kills per set in the Aggies' undefeated weekend… Seattle U's Sierra Bartley tabbed 3.09 kills per set as the Redhawks went 2-1 at the New Mexico Tournament… Stephen F. Austin's Ariana Pagan earned all-tournament team honors at the Tulsa Invitational as she recorded 3.45 kills per set on .289 hitting across three matches… Tarleton's Kayla Brannon notched 7.91 assists per set last week, including a season-high 37 assists against Stony Brook on Friday… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz posted a career-high 26 kills in a win over Louisiana on Thursday as she averaged 4.92 kills per set on the week… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa finished the week averaging 3.68 kills per set, highlighted by 23 kills against Weber State and 20 kills in UVU's meeting with Arizona State.
Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Chandler Gorman averaged 1.18 blocks per set for the Lancers last week, with 13 across three matches… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 3.82 digs per set, including 22 digs in a win over Belmont on Friday… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco posted 4.67 digs per set, including a 22-dig outing that helped lead the Lopes to a four-set victory over a then undefeated UTEP team… Lamar's Giselle Santini averaged 3.55 digs per set as she started all 11 sets for the Cardinals last week… Seattle U's Darian Goins recorded 48 total digs with just three receiving errors on the weekend, helping the Redhawks go 2-1 on the weekend… Stephen F. Austin's Alyssa Ortega finished the week with 53 total digs over the weekend, averaging 4.73 digs per set for the Ladyjacks… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil recorded 10 total blocks over the weekend, making her the WAC leader in total blocks (36) and solo blocks (9)… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luisa Silva Dos Santos averaged 1.13 blocks per set while also chipping in with 1.20 digs per set last week… Utah Valley's Bryton Bishop set a career-high with 26 digs against Weber State while also helping hold Arizona State to one of its lowest hitting percentages of the season.
Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska averaged 1.29 kills per set on .444 hitting in her home debut… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon notched 3.82 digs per set while also posting 1.36 assist per set for the Cougars… Lamar's Emily Surin registered 24 kills and added five digs and three total blocks… Seattle U's Katlyn Sipes recorded 2.45 digs per set on top of 5.09 assists per set last week… Stephen F. Austin's Alyssa Ortega was a standout defensively last week, averaging 4.73 digs per set and 52 total digs across three matches… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant scored 10-plus points for the third time this season following her 12.5-point effort in a sweep of St. Thomas on Saturday… Utah Valley's Jules Fink set a career-high in points (16.5), kills (15) and digs (5) against Arizona State on Friday.