Kentucky libero Jenni Casper was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for volleyball, the league announced Monday. It was the first such honor for the 5-3 junior from Louisville, though Casper was named the first-ever SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2003.

?Jenni?s play this weekend was outstanding and crucial to our two wins,? UK Coach Craig Skinner said. ?I?m proud of the effort she puts into making this team better every day. Not only is Jenni a terrific defensive player, she also is excellent on service reception, which doesn?t show up on the stat sheet but is so important to our success.?

Casper totaled 53 digs in Kentucky?s SEC victories over Arkansas and LSU, including a 31-dig showing in UK?s first win over the Razorbacks in nine years. She followed with a 22-dig performance against LSU, which pushed her into the top spot on UK?s career digs chart. She has totaled 1,202 digs nearing the mid-point of her third season. Casper averaged 6.62 dpg this weekend.

The Mercy Academy graduate is UK?s top back-row player, averaging 4.48 dpg this season. She has totaled double-figure digs in 14 of UK?s 16 matches and ranks first in the league in the category during SEC matches (5.86 pg).

Kentucky, which has opened league play it?s best start since 1998 (4-2), returns home on Friday, Oct. 14 to face No. 5 Florida at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.