Courtesy: Conference USA
IRVING, Texas – Another edition of Conference USA weekly honors saw four programs claim recognition, including Marshall who boasted two winners. The Thundering Herd’s Amber Weber earned Defensive Player of the Week and Gabrielle Coulter was crowned Freshman of the Week. Ivone Martinez of Florida Atlantic returned to the spotlight for the third-consecutive time as the league’s Setter of the Week. Nicole Lennon of Rice and WKU’s Sophia Cerino shared a piece of the Offensive Player of the Week crown. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World Headwear.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Nicole Lennon, Rice, So., Katy, Texas
Lennon crafted a prolific week deserving of the Rice Adidas Invitational II MVP award while helping the Owls claim the tournament title in three victories. Lennon averaged 4.33 kills per set at a scorching .355 clip in four matches overall. She added three service aces and 4.73 average points through the squad’s 15 sets, including a mid-week battle at Stephen F. Austin. The reigning C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year re-wrote career highs with 25 kills against Austin Peay and a .562 hitting percentage in a sweep of McNeese. Her 25 kills were the highest swung for the Owls in four sets since 2004. Lennon posted her team-best fifth double-double of the season in a win over SEC foe Ole Miss with 13 kills and 12 digs. In addition to a standout offensive performance, the Texas product produced six blocks and 38 digs on the week.
Congrats to our sophomore Nicole Lennon on being named the #CUSAVB Co-Offensive Player of the Week! 🏅
🗞️ https://t.co/Ws16SynMg9 #GoOwls👐 pic.twitter.com/PPvBlIDAge
— Rice Volleyball (@RiceVolleyball) September 17, 2018
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Sophia Cerino, WKU, Jr., Brentwood, Tenn.
Cerino notched MVP honors as WKU secured its second-straight tournament title in front of a home crowd last weekend. The junior rose to the occasion and impressed against No. 22 Washington State, powering 11 kills at an efficient .526 percentage with four aces and a pair of blocks. She grew even more confident in the weekend finale, posting a career-high 19 kills with just three attack errors (.485), a service ace, three blocks and 21.5 points. Across 12 sets, Cerino hit a blazing .460 with 3.75 points per set, eight blocks and seven aces.
Sending a big congrats to @sophiacerino23 on the first @ConferenceUSA weekly award of her career! #GoTops
📝 | https://t.co/ArdxnONZW6 pic.twitter.com/huzsA9gCXx
— WKU Volleyball (@WKUVolleyball) September 17, 2018
Defensive Player of the Week
Amber Weber, Marshall, Jr., Ocala, Fla.
Weber averaged 8.27 digs per set in Marshall’s 2-1 week and was the backbone of the Thundering Herd’s defense en route to capturing All-BGSU Invitational honors. The junior opened her week with a 35-dig performance, including six assists and two aces, and followed that up with 25 digs and another six assists in a sweep of Nicholls. Another 30+-dig match on Saturday would help hold down IUPUI to claim the win.
Congrats to @amberwebie and @gabbycoulter6 on being named @ConferenceUSA players of the week! #HerdFamily https://t.co/pQ8lYZmOsp
— Marshall Volleyball (@HerdVolleyball) September 17, 2018
Setter of the Week
Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic, Sr., Mexicali, Mexico
Martinez was crowned the league’s most impressive setter for the third-straight week after facilitating the Owl offense to its ninth win and fourth sweep in a row. The senior was deemed MVP of the Owls Classic in Boca Raton, Florida, bolstering 3.11 digs per set and a 14.22 assists average that allowed her team to compile three matches of a .324 hitting percentage or better. She also netted her 27th-career double-double against North Florida on 48 helpers and 12 digs. Martinez penned 40 assists each in wins over South Dakota State and San Jose State on Friday.
For the third week in a row, @FAUVolleyball's Ivone Martinez is named C-USA Setter of the Week. #AndStill https://t.co/jhTaZ1lXJj
— #WinningInParadise (@FAUAthletics) September 17, 2018
Freshman of the Week
Gabrielle Coulter, Marshall, Fr., Bradenton, Fla.
Another standout setting performance, Coulter recorded 128 assists (11.64/set) with a 52-helper outing in a victory over IUPUI on Saturday. The Marshall newcomer inked three double-doubles in a row, starting with a 49-assist, 14-dig showing at Bowling Green. She pitched in another 12 digs and 27 helpers to silence Nicholls 3-0, before registering her third double-double on Saturday with 12 more digs. The freshman contributed six kills, three blocks and three aces on the weekend.
2018 C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
A27 Valerie Valerian, North Texas
S3 Abby Carlile, UAB
S10 Rachel Anderson, WKU
S17 Nicole Lennon, Rice
Sophia Cerino, WKU
2018 C-USA Defensive Player of the Week
A27 Kara Teal, UTSA
S3 Grace Morgan, Rice
S10 Victoria Young, UAB
S17 Amber Weber, Marshall
2018 C-USA Setter of the Week
A27 Karley York, North Texas
S3 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
S10 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
S17 Ivone Martinez, Florida Atlantic
2018 C-USA Freshman of the Week
A27 Rhett Robinson, North Texas
Kirby Smith, UTSA
S3 Nya Steele, Charlotte
S10 Katie Isenbarger, WKU
S17 Gabrielle Coulter, Marshall
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