Oct. 6, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior setter Morgan Bergren has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and senior libero Jackie Napper the league’s Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the league office on Monday. It marks the first such honor of the Muncie, Ind., native’s career, and the third honor this season for Napper.
Bergren and Napper helped guide the Wildcats to a pair of crucial SEC victories this week with wins over Alabama, a team receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, and No. 21 Texas A&M. The Tide and Aggies entered the weekend with a combined 23-5 (.821) record.
Bergren directed the Wildcats to a .306 attacking percentage for the weekend with six players averaging 1.29 kills per set or better. Bergren charted 43 or more assists in both victories, while contributing 11 kills of her own on a blistering .579 attacking percentage. She did not commit a single error in 19 attacking attempts.
Kentucky posted 54 kills in the win over Texas A&M which marked a three-set record in the 25-point rally scoring era for the Blue and White. For the week, UK averaged 16.70 kills per set, with Bergren helping on an average of 13 per frame.
Bergren recently topped the 2,000 assist mark in her career, which pushed her into the all-time top 10 list in program history. The SEC Player of the Week honor is the first of Bergren’s career. She was named an SEC Freshman of the Week recipient in 2012. It is also the first such honor of the season for Kentucky.
Napper earns SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in four weeks after averaging 4.43 digs per set. In both matches, Napper logged 15 or more digs and now has 15 or more in 13 matches this season, including five of the last six played.
In addition to leading the UK defense, Napper contributed offensively as well. She logged 10 assists in the two matches – including a season-high six against the Aggies.
With 1,263 career digs, the Louisville, Ky., native now sits second all-time in the 25-point rally scoring era, and fourth overall in the history of the program.
The Wildcats resume SEC action on Friday, as UK travels to Tennessee for a 7 p.m. ET first serve on Oct. 10. Kentucky will then return home on Sunday, Oct. 12 for a Noon ET match against Auburn. The matchup vs. the Tigers is set to air live on the SEC Network.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky volleyball team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info on the volleyball team like Kentucky Volleyball on Facebook or follow the team on Twitter at @KentuckyVB.
