Napper Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 15, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior libero Jackie Napper was named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the league office on Monday. It is the first such honor of the Louisville, Ky., native’s career.

Napper had a week to remember in helping lead the Wildcats to a 3-1 road trip last week. She averaged 5.00 digs per set with 80 digs on the week. Napper also contributed 15 assists to aid the offensive effort.

Against Louisville, in front of her hometown crowd, Napper picked up 26 digs to set a new career-high total. She also passed out a season-high six assists in the four-set win, the first at Louisville for Kentucky since 1993.

Napper continued her impressive week by matching the career-high dig total with 26 digs in a five-set loss at No. 17 North Carolina. She added 15 digs in a win over VCU and 13 in the win over Georgia Southern. She has notched 10 or more digs in every match this season for UK, and has amassed 1,163 career digs to move into sixth all-time in the UK record books.

This is the first Defensive Player of the Week honor for Napper who previously earned SEC Freshman of the Week accolades in 2011.

Napper and the Wildcats will play two matches at home this week. Up first, Kentucky welcomes Lipscomb to Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. ET. UK will then host Xavier on Saturday, Sept. 20, also at 7 p.m. ET. The two matches will mark the final tune-ups for the Cats before beginning SEC action next week.

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