Oct. 3, 2011
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Husky senior middle blocker Bianca Rowland was named Pac-12 Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 26-Oct. 1, the conference office announced today. A big week blocking from Rowland helped the Huskies to wins against Oregon and Oregon State this past weekend. This is the second Defensive Player of the Week award for Rowland this season. She also won the honor on August 29 after the first week of the year. Weekly awards have been selected every week since the Conference began sponsoring women's volleyball in 1986. The offensive, defensive and freshman of the week honors are new for the 2011 campaign. On Friday against the 15th-ranked Ducks, Rowland had eight block assists, along with six kills and an ace, as the Huskies earned a straight set victory. The next night, Rowland had six block assists and one solo rejection, plus seven kills and a pair of digs as again the Dawgs scored a 3-0 victory. The 15 blocks is Rowland's most over a two-match stretch this season. Her contributions at the net played a big part in UW holding Oregon to .189 on offense, and the Beavers to just .071, both well below their season averages. The Lynnwood native averaged 2.50 bps for the weekend to raise her season average to 1.45, currently second in the Pac-12. Washington returns to action hosting Colorado this Friday night and then Utah on Saturday night, looking to extend a five-match Pac-12 win streak. Both matches are at 7 p.m. 2011 Pac-12 Women's Volleyball Player of the Week Offensive Defensive Freshman Aug. 29 Alaina Bergsma, ORE Bianca Rowland, WASH Krista Vansant, WASH Sept. 5 Rachael Kidder, UCLA Karissa Cook, STAN Krista Vansant, WASH Sept. 12 Rachel Williams, STAN Carly Wopat, STAN Arica Nassar, OSU Sept. 19 Alaina Bergsma, ORE Robin Rostratter, CAL Chloe Mathis, ARIZ Sept. 26 Kendall Bateman, USC Kelly Reeves, UCLA Zoe Nightingale, UCLA Oct. 3 Carly Wopat, STAN Bianca Rowland, WASH Christina Higgings, CAL |
