Big South Announces Volleyball Players of the Week

Updated: November 09, 2009 1:11 PM

by: Big South

Courtesy: Big South
http://www.bigsouthsports.com/

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) - UNC Asheville's Kelsey Benorden has been named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Volleyball Player of the Week, while Allison Brown of Presbyterian was tabbed The Crons Brand Freshman of the Week. Raquel Miotto of UNC Asheville picked up Defensive Player of the Week honors, the League announced today.

Benorden, a junior from Knoxville, Tenn., put away 61 kills, hit .306 and averaged 5.08 kills per set to push the Bulldogs back to the No. 1 spot in the League with a 3-0 record last week. She got her week started with 16 kills, a .341 average at the net, 15 digs and two blocks in Asheville's 3-1 win over Gardner-Webb on Nov. 3. In the battle for first-place in the League against Liberty, the outside hitter came up big with 25 kills on .370 hitting. She also chipped in 15 digs and two blocks to lead Asheville to a 3-1 win. She closed the week out with 20 kills, 28 digs and three blocks as the Bulldogs downed High Point, 3-1. She finished the week with 58 digs, an average of 4.83 digs per set.

Brown, a right side/middle blocker from Plano, Texas, found the floor for 19 kills and a .300 attack percentage to help the Blue Hose to a 1-1 record last week, including a road win over Coastal Carolina. Against the Chanticleers, Brown notched 13 kills and a .304 hitting percentage to go along with two digs and one block. The next day at Winthrop, she recorded six kills, a .294 average at the net and one block. She closed out the two match span averaging 2.38 kills per set.

Miotto, a senior from Sau Paulo, Brazil, averaged 6.0 digs per set as she came up with 72 digs in Asheville's three wins last week. Against Gardner-Webb, she dug up 16 balls and followed that effort with 24 digs against Liberty. She finished the week off with her third 30-dig match of the season as she posted 32 digs against High Point. Miotto also kicked in four service aces for the Bulldogs. The Big South's career leader with 2,588 digs, Miotto is currently ranked No. 5 All-Time in Division I history.

Also nominated for volleyball Player of the Week for Week 11: Sam Sasan (Charleston Southern), Chelsy Kimes (Coastal Carolina), Megan Kaminskas (High Point), Chelaine McCarty (Liberty) and Kelley Taylor (Winthrop).

Also nominated for volleyball Freshman of the Week for Week 11: Michaela Luna (Charleston Southern), Molly Rhyne (Gardner-Webb), Courtney Johnk (High Point) and Loren Thomas (Liberty).

Also nominated for volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11: Crissy Skokan (Charleston Southern), Megan Bickford (Coastal Carolina), Julie Hershkowitz (High Point), Kelly Haseman (Liberty) and Amanda Kettles (Presbyterian).

Player of the Week
Aug. 31 - Megan Smith, High Point
Sept. 8 - Lauren Ficker, UNC Asheville
Sept. 14 - Lauren Ficker, UNC Asheville
Sept. 21 - Amanda Hill, Charleston Southern
Sept. 28 - Chelaine McCarty, Liberty
Oct. 5 - Amanda Kettles, Presbyterian College
Oct. 12 - Cindi Miller, UNC Asheville
Oct. 19 - Megan Bickford, Coastal Carolina
Oct. 26 - Chelaine McCarty, Liberty
Nov. 2 - Amanda Hill, Charleston Southern
Nov. 9 - Kelsey Benorden, UNC Asheville