Fleck and Luper Bring in Pac-12 Player of the Week Awards

SAN FRANCISCO – Senior libero Zoe Fleck was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week and outside hitter Charitie Luper earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors for the third time this season, as announced by the conference Monday afternoon.

This week's awards marks the first time since Aug. 28, 2017, that UCLA won multiple Player of the Week awards (Mac May/Freshman & Zana Muno/Defensive). Luper is the first Bruin to receive a conference Freshman of the Week award three times. This is Fleck's second time receiving the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Award in her career.
 
Fleck, the reigning Pac-12 Libero of the Year, averaged five digs per set (30) in the Bruins' two straight-set sweeps of ranked Pac-12 foes No. 24 Colorado and No. 15 Utah. Fleck has now led UCLA in digs in 14 matches this season and scored double-digit digs in every match she has played for the Bruins (36).
 
Fleck played a large role in holding both the Buffs and Utes to sub-.170 hitting percentages as well as keeping both teams to triple zeroes for one set in each match. Fleck is averaging 4.13 digs per set on the season, good for fifth-best in the Pac-12. Fleck went on a run a 9-0 run at the service line in the Bruins' second set versus Utah to go up two sets to none.
 
Luper, who previously received Freshman of the Week Awards twice in September, picked up another following her career-high 23.5 points and 20-kills (.400) versus Utah. Luper found her groove in front of the Pauley Pavilion crowd once more, slamming home five consecutive Bruin kills for their final seven points to win the second frame. She picked up seven and eight kills in the second and third sets, respectively, for a combined .520 hitting percentage.
 
Luper was also active defensively with two solo blocks and seven digs.
  
In Friday's match versus Colorado, Luper scored eight kills at a .368 clip alongside four digs.
 
Luper has now recorded double-digit kills eight times this season and leads the team with a .322 hitting percentage (min. 50 kills). She ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in kills per set (3.57) and tenth in both points per set (4.00) and hitting percentage.