Pac-12 announces volleyball players of the week

SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference office announced today the Pac-12 Volleyball Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 3-9. UTAH’s Carly Trueman was voted the Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, while STANFORD’s Kyle Gilbert was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Utah’s Eliza Katoa was tabbed the Freshman of the Week.

Carly Trueman (Tucson, Ariz.), a redshirt freshman, recorded 14 kills for a 2.33 kills per set average and a hitting percentage of .632 as the Utes knocked off No. 19 USC and No. 15 UCLA. In the 3-0 win over USC, the middle blocker collected seven kills with zero errors on nine attempts, adding two blocks. Trueman then tallied another seven kills in a 3-0 victory over UCLA with just two errors for a clip of .500, also posting eight blocks. The two victories marked the first time Utah had back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since 2007. 

Kyle Gilbert (Encinitas, Calif.) had record performances against ranked opponents as the Cardinal defeated No. 20 Arizona State and No. 16 Arizona. The senior libero posted 7.10 digs per set over the two games, almost three more per set than her season average, as Stanford improved to 24-0 and 14-0 in the Pac-12, its best start to a season since 1991. In the 3-2 victory against Arizona State, Gilbert registered a then-season high 31 digs, tying for fifth all-time for digs in a match in program history. She topped that performance with a school-record and career-high 40 digs in the 3-2 win over Arizona, breaking the previous record of 33 set by herself in 2013 and Gabi Ailes in 2009. She has now recorded 30 or more digs in a match four times in her career. 

Eliza Katoa (Layton, Utah) led the Utes with 19 kills and a clip of .390 while guiding Utah to a pair of upset wins this weekend. Against No. 19 USC, the outside hitter recorded eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage as the Utes swept the Trojans. She then followed that performance with 11 kills in another three-set win against No. 15 UCLA. Katoa averaged 3.17 kills per set coming off the bench, while also collecting a pair of blocks late in Utah's win over UCLA.

The offensive player of the week accolade is the first for Trueman, and marks Utah’s fifth-overall player of the week selection since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. It marks Gilbert’s second-career weekly honor, having earned defensive player of the week last year on Oct. 15. It is Stanford’s 94th overall weekly honor. The honor is the first freshman of the week accolade for Katoa, and also the first for the Utes since the award was established in 2011. 

Utah remains at home, hosting Washington State on Thursday, Nov. 13 and Washington on Saturday, Nov. 15. Stanford heads to SoCal to face USC on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and UCLA on Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information, including a complete schedule, visit www.pac-12.com. 

Also Nominated

Offensive: Madi Kingdon, ARIZ; Macey Gardner, ASU; Taylor Simpson, COLO; Serena Warner, ORE; Arica Nassar, OSU; Jordan Burgess, STAN; Karsta Lowe, UCLA; Samantha Bricio, USC; Krista Vansant, WASH. 

Defensive: Madi Kingdon, ARIZ; Cierra Simpson, COLO; Liz Brenner, ORE; Darby Reeder, OSU; Karsta Lowe, UCLA; Taylor Whittingham, USC; Shelby Dalton, UTAH; Cassie Strickland, WASH; Kate Sommer, WSU. 

Freshman: Gabby Simpson, COLO; Mary-Kate Marshall, OSU; Reily Buechler, UCLA; Tia Scambray, WASH. 

2014 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK