Pac-12 announces volleyball players of the week

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The Pac-12 Conference office announced the Pac-12 Volleyball Players of the Week for the week of October 7-13. STANFORD’s Carly Wopat was named the Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, UTAH’s Chelsey Schofield was voted the Defensive Player of the Week and USC’s Ebony Nwanebu was tabbed the league’s Freshman of the Week. Nwanebu earns the freshman recognition for the third-consecutive week and fourth time overall.

Senior Carly Wopat (Santa Barbara, Calif.) offensively led No. 8 Stanford to sweeps over Utah and Colorado last week, improving the Cardinal to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in the Pac-12. The middle blocker hit .529 in both matches and averaged 3.26 kills, 4.33 points and 1.50 blocks per set. She had identical offensive numbers in both matches, recording 10 kills on 17 attempts and just on error. Wopat also registered five blocks and two digs against the Utes and posted four blocks, two digs, an assist and an ace against the Buffs. On the season, Wopat leads the Pac-12 with a .498 attack percentage and 1.40 blocks per set. She also ranks among the top-10 in the Conference in kills per set (3.26) and points per set (4.32).

Junior outside hitter Chelsey Schofield (Provo, Utah) turned in a team-high 4.14 digs per set last week in road matches at No. 8 Stanford and California. She also tied for the team lead with 2.57 kills per set to go with her 0.43 blocks and 0.14 service aces per set. Schofield posted a team-high 13 digs to reach double digits in digs for the eighth time this season in the loss to the Cardinal. She then turned in her fifth double-double of the year with 11 kills and a team-high 16 digs during Sunday’s 3-1 win at California.

Outside hitter Ebony Nwanebu (Lucas, Texas) has another strong week, putting up 3.50 points per set to help the Trojans to a pair of 3-0 victories over Oregon State and Oregon last weekend. She had seven kills and hit .286 to go with three blocks against the Beavers, then came back to lead USC with 11 kills (.273), two digs, and three blocks against the Ducks. For the weekend, Nwanebu hit .277 to go with 1.00 blocks per set.

It is the fifth weekly honor for Wopat and fourth offensive nod. It is also the 85th weekly citation for Stanford all-time, a Conference record. Schofield’s honor is second all-time for Utah, both coming this season after teammate Erin Redd-Brandon was selected the defensive player of the week on Sept. 2. Nwanebu’s four weekly rookie nods is tied for the second-most since the inception of the award in 2011. Only teammate sophomore Samantha Bricio has earned the honor more times, winning the award five times last year.

Weekly awards have been selected every week of the season since the Conference began sponsoring women’s volleyball in 1986. It is the third year the Pac-12 has announced an offensive, defensive and rookie honoree. Freshman of the week honors are not included in the all-time totals for each institution.

The Cardinal, Trojans and Utes are all on the road this weekend. Stanford travels to Washington State, then faces Washington for a top-10 clash. USC heads to Arizona State and Arizona, while Utah takes on Oregon State then Oregon. All matches will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

Also Nominated:
OFFENSIVE: Madi Kingdon, ARIZ; Alexis Austin, COLO; Ariana Williams, ORE; Karsta Lowe, UCLA; Alexis Olgard, USC; Erin Redd-Brandon, UTAH; Krista Vansant, WASH.

DEFENSIVE: Olivia Magill, ARIZ; Kerra Schroeder, COLO; Kyle Gilbert, STAN; Kelly Reeves, UCLA; Natalie Hagglund, USC; Jenna Orlandini, WASH; Kyra Holt, WSU.

FRESHMAN: Penina Snuka, ARIZ; Cierra Simpson, COLO; Claire Felix, UCLA; Kyra Holt, WSU.

2013 Pac-12 Women’s Volleyball Players of the Week