North Texas’ Valerian Tabbed as C-USA Offensive Player of the Week

  0 volleymob | August 27th, 2018 | College - Women's Indoor, Conference USA, News

Courtesy: Conference USA

IRVING, Texas – North Texas and UTSA claimed tournament championships in their respective opening weekends en route to multiple Conference USA volleyball weekly honors.

North Texas sophomore Valerie Valerian earned Offensive Player of the Week, while senior teammate Karley York garnered Setter of the Week. North Texas newcomer Rhett Robinson collected a share of Co-Freshman of the Week. UTSA’s Kara Teal was named Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Freshman of the Week went to fellow Roadrunner Kirby Smith. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World Headwear.

Offensive Player of the Week

Valerie Valerian, North Texas, So., Sugar Land, Texas
Outside hitter Valerie Valerian earned all-tournament honors and powered the Mean Green to nine-straight set victories this weekend at the North Texas Invitational. Her 37 kills at a .453 clip lifted her squad to two of the top-10 single-match attack percentages recorded in program history. She extended her double-digit kill streak to nine matches dating back to the 2017 campaign. In three sweeps of Nicholls, Northeastern and Kent State, Valerian led in kills, kills per set (4.11), hitting percentage and aces (5), three of which were marked a career-high against Kent State. She also stretched four blocks on the weekend.

Defensive Player of the Week

Kara Teal, UTSA, Jr., Round Rock, Texas
Kara Teal was named an all-tournament selection at the Army Invitational, and rightfully so. The junior compiled the second-best hitting percentage throughout the league’s first weekend (.534) and came third in blocks (1.33), guiding UTSA toward the tournament championship in three victories. She came out swinging on Friday against San Francisco to pile 13 kills, an ace and eight blocks. Teal mustered 34 kills on the weekend and hit above .500 in each of the team’s three matches. She also tallied five aces, four digs and 16 blocks in the two-day effort.

C-USA Setter of the Week

Karley York, North Texas, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Karley York was crowned North Texas Invitational MVP as she facilitated her offense toward two of the most efficient attack percentages in history. The senior posted 12.67 assists per set, 114 total, through nine sets, including 41 against Nicholls. That match saw the Mean Green register a .526 team attack percentage, good for third-highest in a single contest. The setter also strung together a career-high four blocks against Kent State to total six on the weekend. York also chipped in with four kills at a .667 hitting clip, 11 digs and a pair of aces.

Co-Freshman of the Week

Rhett Robinson, North Texas, Fr., Krum, Texas
Rhett Robinson impressed in her collegiate debut with North Texas. The newcomer swung eight kills with no errors, four digs and four blocks in the season opener on Friday. Robinson assisted in another three blocks in the following match against Northeastern and added two service aces. She tied Valerian for most kills in the weekend finale (12) on a .409 attack percentage and chipped in one ace and one dig.

Co-Freshman of the Week

Kirby Smith, UTSA, Fr., Plano, Texas
Kirby Smith shined in her first matches as a Roadrunner. The freshman posted two double-doubles and led the squad in digs in each match. Against Quinnipiac, Smith inked 10 kills, 13 digs, three blocks and an ace, before playing a vital role in a five-set thriller against Army in the weekend finale. She led UTSA with 23 digs and chipped in 12 kills, two assists, an ace and one block. She now leads all C-USA freshmen with 4.45 digs per set.

Leave a Reply

avatar

Don't want to miss anything?

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest updates!