Schwarzwalder Earns UK's Fifth SEC Player of the Week Honor
Oct. 13, 2014
LEXINGTON, KY. – After leading the Kentucky volleyball team to record-setting blocking totals, junior Sara Schwarzwalder has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. It is the first Player of the Week honor of Schwarzwalder’s career and the fifth this season for the Wildcats.
In Kentucky’s 3-0 win over Auburn Sunday, Schwarzwalder had 11 block assists, the most in program history in the 25-point rally scoring era. Her 11 total blocks, which shattered her career best, are tied for the most in UK history. The middle blocker helped UK to 13 total blocks and 26 block assists, tied for the most block assists by UK in a three-set match in team history in the 25-point rally scoring era.
Also in the victory, UK’s 10th consecutive victory, Schwarzwalder had nine kills, the second-best total on the team and just two shy of matching a season high. In the Wildcats’ win two days earlier at Tennessee, the North Royalton, Ohio, native added five kills on .625 hitting.
On the weekend, Schwarzwalder hit .417 with 14 kills and just four errors with 11 blocks.
With 227 career block assists and 243 total blocks, Schwarzwalder is sixth in both categories in UK’s 25-point rally scoring era record book.
Schwarzwalder’s Defensive Player of the Week accolade is the fifth SEC weekly award for UK this season, all in the last five weeks. Senior Libero Jackie Napper has been named Defensive Player of the Week three times, while junior setter Morgan Bergren earned Player of the Week honors on Oct. 6.
Kentucky has won 10 straight matches, its longest winning streak since 2008 and the second-longest in head coach Craig Skinner’s tenure. In 2008, UK won 12 contests in a row. The Wildcats return to the road Friday at Georgia at 7 p.m. ET before it returns home Sunday to host LSU Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
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.
