IRVING, Texas - Coming off of WKU's one-match week that saw the Lady Toppers take down Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, juniors Alyssa Cavanaugh and Jessica Lucas have earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday.
Cavanaugh collects her second Offensive Player of the Week laurel of the season and third of her career following a match-high 21 kill outing in WKU's four-set victory at Southern Miss Thursday night. In the third set, the two-time All-American registered eight of WKU's 13 kills in the frame to help the Red and White take a 2-1 lead in the contest. The outing marked Cavanaugh's fifth 20-kill performance of the season. In addition to her offensive efforts, Cavanaugh registered a pair of solo blocks in the victory.
For the third-consecutive week and sixth time this season, Lucas has been tabbed as the C-USA Setter of the Week, marking the 11th weekly honor of her career. Lucas and Sarah Bell of Southern Miss were named Co-Setters following Thursday evening's contest in which both setters tallied 48 assists and 12 digs from the Reed Green Coliseum. Lucas contributed a trio of kills, two block assists and a service ace in the Lady Topper victory.
Six Setter of the Week accolades in a single season ties the C-USA record for the award as Lucas is both the third setter, and player overall, to achieve the feat. Julia Silva of Tulsa collected 14 Setter of the Week accolades during her career to own the record for the most weekly awards achieved, putting Lucas' 11 in second all-time. Across all C-USA weekly awards, Lucas owns the fifth most awards at 11 with the record of 17 owned by Tulsa's Tyler Henderson spanning from 2009-2012.
WKU's victory on Thursday night also marked the 250th conference victory of head coach Travis Hudson's 22-year career with the Lady Toppers.
The Lady Toppers are back in action Tuesday evening in a non-conference match up against Lipscomb. Action will take place at the E.A. Diddle Arena as the team opens up a three-match home stretch. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. CT.
