The Big West Women’s Volleyball Player, Freshman and Defensive Player of the Week awards featured a CSUN junior and a pair of talented Cal State Fullerton youngsters.
Stinson Named UNLV Invitational MVP
CSUN junior Cieana Stinson (Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft HS) captured Most Valuable Player honors of the UNLV Invitational after leading her team to a 3-0 record and earning Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week acclaim.
The 5-11 outside hitter averaged 4.33 kills per set and hit .325 (52-13-120) as the Matadors defeated the host Rebels twice and Western Kentucky.
Stinson pounded a match-high 15 kills in the season-opening four-set win against UNLV. She added 11 kills, three digs and hit .391 in a sweep over Western Kentucky, but she saved her best for the tournament finale.
In a rematch with UNLV, Stinson clubbed a career-high 26 kills and swung at a .370 clip to help CSUN storm back from a two-set deficit and win in five (making it a
#BIGNIGHT for Stinson and CSUN). Stinson’s kill total was the most by a Matador hitter since Mahina Haina had 28 against Weber State in 2011.
Others nominated: Taylor Nelson (Cal Poly); Mackenzie Olsen (Cal State Fullerton); Bre Mackie (Long Beach State); Tyler Dorsey (UC Riverside); Kalei Greeley (Hawai‘i)
Withers Named To All-Tournament Team
Cal State Fullerton outside hitter Niki Withers (Lakewood, Calif./Long Beach Poly HS) notched Big West Women’s Volleyball Freshman of the Week accolades after recording three consecutive double-digit kill matches.
Withers put away 20 kills in a four-set win over Bucknell in her Titan debut. She added 12 kills and hit .375 (12-3-24) in a sweep over Sacred Heart. She swung above .300 for the second match in a row, hitting .308 with 11 kills in a three-game loss to Texas Tech. After leading the tournament with a 4.30 kills per set average, Withers was selected to the All-Tournament Team of the Titan Classic.
Others nominated: Raeann Greisen (Cal Poly); Ashley Murray (Long Beach State); Haili Hoeft (UC Riverside); Kalei Greeley (Hawai‘i)
Tournament Digs Leader Painton Earns Honor
Cal State Fullerton libero McKenna Painton (Bakersfield, Calif./Centennial HS) received the Big West Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week award as she anchored the team’s defense with a tournament-best 5.60 digs per set average at the Titan Classic.
The sophomore registered 30 digs in the season opener against Bucknell. She finished the tournament with 11 digs against Sacred Heart and 15 versus Texas Tech. Painton had 56 digs in 10 sets played. She joined teammate Niki Withers on the Titan Classic All-Tournament Team.
Others nominated: Caihla Petiprin (Cal Poly); Tyler Jackson (Long Beach State); Maddie Hubbell (UC Riverside); Ali Spindt (UC Santa Barbara); Sarah Mendoza (Hawai‘i)