UC Santa Barbara setter Mari Bell (Manhattan Beach, CA/Notre Dame Academy) earned Big West Player of the Week accolades as she ran a high-powered Gaucho offense to wins over conference foes Cal State Northridge and Pacific.

Bell, a 5-9 junior, averaged 13.86 assists, 0.57 service aces and 3.00 digs per game for the week as the Gauchos stayed in first place in the Big West standings. The Gauchos hit an impressive .325 and .329 against the Matadors and Tigers with Bell spearheading the offense.

In a showdown for first place on Friday, UCSB swept Cal State Northridge behind Bell's four kills, 44 assists, six digs and two block assists. On Saturday, Bell dished out 53 assists and tied a career high with 15 digs as the Gauchos defeated Pacific in four games. She added three service aces in the match.

This is Bell's first career Big West Player of the Week honor.