Kentucky Sweeps All Five SEC Weekly Awards

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 24 Kentucky volleyball team won all five Southeastern Conference awards on Monday as juniors Ashley Dusek and Kaz Brown, sophomore Olivia Dailey and freshman Leah Edmond all were honored. Dusek was tabbed the SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Week, Brown won Offensive Player of the Week, Dailey earned Setter of the Week, and Edmond took home Freshman of the Week.

Dusek captured the league’s player of the week and its best defensive performer after a spectacular display in wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas. The East Bernard, Texas native racked up 54 digs in the two matches, including a season-high 31 against the Rebels. Dusek is just one of two UK players to produce a 30-or-more dig match in the 25-point rally scoring era, and this was the fifth in her career. 

Dusek added 23 scoops in the three-set sweep of the Razorbacks, her highest in a three-set match this season. She did not commit a reception error over the weekend, and added a season-best three aces in the win against the Rebels.

Brown claimed the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time this season. She hit a blistering .514 in the two wins with 23 kills, including a .643 clip and 11 hammers on just 14 attempts in the sweep of the Razorbacks. The Waterloo, Iowa native was spectacular at the net last week. Brown racked up 13 total blocks, and had seven rejections in the win at Arkansas. At Ole Miss, Brown produced six rejections, including two block solos.

Dailey picked up her fourth SEC Setter of the Week honor after putting up 98 assists last week. The Trussville, Alabama averaged an impressive 14.00 assists per set last week, well above her 11.76 average for the year, which was already good enough for sixth in the nation. 

In addition to facilitating the offense, Dailey matched a career-high six blocks at Ole Miss on Sunday. She also added nine digs in the win over Arkansas on Friday.

Edmond earned her seventh SEC Freshman of the Week award of the season after tallying 18 kills in both victories. She hit at a .394 attacking clip, and averaged 5.14 kills per frame during the 2-0 run from the Wildcats. Against Arkansas, Edmond picked up her eighth double-double of the season after adding 10 digs. The freshman already sits at eighth in the 25-point rally scoring era for matches with a double-double. The Lexington, Kentucky native tossed in five blocks last week, one ace and one assist.

Kentucky will be back in action on Friday when the Wildcats host LSU at 7 p.m. The match can be watched live on SEC Network+. 

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