Sept. 13, 2011

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Utah Valley's Erica Nish has been named Great West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week after an outstanding week on the court for the Wolverines which included a win over Big East Conference member Syracuse. It is the first time in GWC history that the same athlete has earned both offensive and defensive honors for the same week.

Nish, a junior from Hooper, Utah, tallied 50 kills in five matches for a 2.78 kill per set average. She also hit a solid .374 and posted six service aces to help her team go 4-1 on the week, which in addition to the Syracuse victory, included a win at the Mountain West's Air Force in the Falcon Invitational. Nish had 13 kills, hit .455 and averaged 4.33 kills per set in three sets against BYU-Hawaii and in five sets versus Northern Arizona she posted a career-best 15 kills, hit .344 and averaged 3.0 kills per set, propelling her to All-Tournament honors.

The middle blocker was also solid around the net defensively as she tallied 29 block assists and three block solos in five matches. Nish posted a 1.78 block per set average and recorded a career-best 12 block assists and one block solo in the Wolverines only loss of the week, a 3-2 setback against Northern Arizona.

Others nominated for the offensive award were Heather Leaverton (Houston Baptist) and Lisa Parlich (North Dakota). Defensive nominees included Courtney Whittleman (Houston Baptist) and Lisa Parlich (North Dakota).

Nish and the Wolverines will be in action this weekend at the Saint Mary's Invitational in Moraga, Calif. There UVU will play host Saint Mary's Thursday, Kansas State Friday and Sacramento State Saturday.