Press Release courtesy of the Big West Conference.
Ruddins Sparks Gaucho Offense In 2-0 Week
UC Santa Barbara sophomore Lindsey Ruddins (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel HS) averaged nearly eight kills per set in a pair of conference victories to garner Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week accolades.
The 6-2 outside hitter averaged 7.67 kills and 3.50 digs to power the Gauchos to sweeps over UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. She also hit .411 with 46 kills and just nine errors in 90 swings in capturing her first career Player of the Week honor. She was a five-time Freshman Player of the Week award recipient in 2016.
Ruddins contributed 24 kills and 14 digs against UC Riverside for her fifth double-double of the season. She hit .380 with just five errors in 50 attempts while chipping in with two block assists. Ruddins had nine kills in the first stanza alone and dealt the set-clinching kill in all three games.
The performance helped head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch earn the 300th victor of her career.
Ruddins improved her numbers in the Cal State Fullerton win, posting a match-high 22 kills on a season-best .450 hitting percentage. She delivered 10 kills in the middle set. It was the seventh time this season that she had compiled 20 or more cutaways in a match.
Ruddins also had seven digs, three blocks and four assists against the Titans.
Others nominated: Raeann Greisen (Cal Poly); Aeryn Owens (CSUN); Megan Kruidhof (Long Beach State); Kaiulani Ahuna (UC Riverside); Norene Iosia (Hawai‘i)
Petrachi Leads Defensive Effort In Conference Sweeps
UC Santa Barbara junior Emilia Petrachi (Modena, Italy/Liceo Classico San Carlo) tallied 47 digs in just six sets to capture her fourth career Big West Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week award.
The 5-6 libero averaged 7.83 digs per set to help UCSB defeat UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton for the start of Big West action.
Petrachi had 19 digs with three assists against the Highlanders.
She notched a season-best 28 digs versus the Titans, including 13 in the third set alone. Petrachi has totaled five matches with 20 or more digs this season.
Others nominated: Malia Bolko (UC Davis); Luna Tsujimoto (UC Irvine); Savanah Kahakai (Hawai‘i)
Omwanghe Hits .556 In Two Wins
UC Santa Barbara’s Nicole Omwanghe (Claremont, Calif./Claremont HS) hit a combined .556 in two conference wins, securing her first career Big West Women’s Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week award.
The 6-2 middle blocker averaged 2.67 kills and 1.83 blocks per set in Gaucho wins over UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. She amassed .556 hitting efficiency with 16 kills and just one error in 27 attempts.
Omwanghe had eight kills in each of the wins. Against the Highlanders, she added six blocks including one solo.
She didn’t commit an error in 15 attempts versus the Titans. At the net, she provided five more blocks.
Omwanghe has hit better than .500 in three consecutive contests.
Others nominated: Radi Marinova (Long Beach State); Nicole Rodriguez (UC Riverside); Sophia Howling (Hawai‘i)
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