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 final week of the regular season. STANFORD’s Brittany Howard was voted the Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, OREGON'S Amanda Benson was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and STANFORD's Hayley Hodson was selected Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this year.
PAC-12 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: BRITTANY HOWARD, STANFORD (SR, OH, Los Altos, Calif.)
Brittany Howard led Stanford to wins over California and then-No. 13 UCLA by averaging 3.78 kills per set on .379 hitting, 2.00 digs, 0.44 blocks and 4.33 points per set. In the match against the rival Golden Bears, she recorded 12 kills, two service aces, 13 digs and two total blocks, for her 10th double-double of the season, propelling the Cardinal to a 3-1 victory. Stanford then faced the Bruins and won, 3-2, in a five-set thriller, with Howard posting 22 kills on .404 hitting while also pitching in five digs and two total blocks. It her first-career offensive weekly recognition, putting Stanford at 96 all-time weekly accolades. She was a two-time freshman of the week honoree in 2012 and was named defense player of the week that year as well.
Also Nominated: Tyler Spriggs, ARIZ; Alexis Austin, COLO; Martenne Bettendorf, ORE; Katelyn Driscoll, OSU; Claire Felix, UCLA; Samantha Bricio, USC; Tia Scambray, WASH.
PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: AMANDA BENSON, OREGON (JR, L, Litchfield Park, Ariz.)
Amanda Benson is the first Oregon Duck to earn Pac-12 defensive weekly honors since Nov. 25, 2013. She averaged 5.50 digs per set in the Ducks' 3-0 victories over Arizona State and Oregon State to close out the season. Benson had a service ace and 13 digs in the match against the Sun Devils followed by 20 digs and an assist against the Beavers. Benson's 20 digs rank her tied for fourth among Pac-12 players in a three-set match this season. It is Benson's first-career weekly accolade and the fourth all-time defensive honor for Oregon.
Also Nominated: Laura Larson, ARIZ; Cierra Simpson, COLO; Haley Clarke, OSU; Halland McKenna, STAN; Taylor Formico, UCLA; Alicia Ogoms, USC; Lianna Sybeldon, WASH.
PAC-12 FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: HAYLEY HODSON, STANFORD (FR, OPP, Newport Beach, Calif.)
Hayley Hodson is Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season, after contributing 4.33 kills, 2.11 digs, 1.00 blocks and 5.05 points per set in Stanford's wins over California and then-No. 13 UCLA. In the 3-1 victory over the Golden Bears, Hodson posted a team-best 18 kills, six digs and five total blocks. She then notched 21 kills, 13 digs and four blocks in a 3-2 win at then-No. 13 UCLA for her team-best 12th double-double of the season, reaching the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this year. Stanford leads the league with 15 all-time freshman weekly honors.
Also Nominated: Tyler Spriggs, ARIZ; Naghede Abu, COLO; Lindsey Vander Weide, ORE; Lanesha Reagan, OSU; Zana Muno, UCLA; Baylee Johnson, USC; Ella Lajos, WSU.
Weekly awards have been selected every week of the season since the Conference began sponsoring women’s volleyball in 1986. The Pac-12 has announced an offensive, defensive and freshman weekly honoree since 2011. Freshman of the week honors are not included in the all-time totals for each institution.
Seven Pac-12 teams earned NCAA Tournament bids, including Stanford and Oregon. The No. 8 overall seed, the Cardinal host New Mexico State on Thursday and face Loyola Marymount or Colorado State on Friday if it wins. Oregon travels to Madison, Wis., to face Wisconsin on Thursday. The winner of that match faces the winner of the Iowa State - Miami tilt in the second round on Friday. It is the 16th-consecutive year at least six Pac-12 teams have earned postseason bids.
2015 PAC-12 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK