Nov. 26, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the fifth time in her illustrious career senior libero Stephanie Klefot has been honored as the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the league office on Monday morning.

A mere few minutes after earning her third-consecutive SEC Libero of the Year award Klefot was honored as the league’s top defensive performer for the final regular season week of competition. It marks the fifth honor of her career and the first of the season.

In two crucial road victories to close out the regular season, Klefot averaged 4.67 digs per set and 1.50 assists per stanza in leading UK past Missouri and Auburn. She took 31 serves on the weekend and did not commit a single error, while alsocontributing offensively with a season-high two aces in the win at Auburn. The seven assists she garnered against Missouri was just one shy of a career-high mark.

For the season, Kentucky earned seven weekly awards. Junior Alexandra Morgan was twice named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Senior setter Christine Hartmann secured SEC Player of the Week honors twice. Junior Whitney Billings was tabbed SEC Player of the Week once and freshman Morgan Bergren earned SEC Freshman of the Week accolades once to highlight the year for UK.

The Wildcats were selected to their eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. UK will open the 2012 tournament with East Tennessee State on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET at home in Memorial Coliseum.

Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the UK volleyball team. For additional coverage of the volleyball squad be sure and check out CatScratchesBlog.com/volleyball.