CSUN middle blocker Casey Hinger, Hawai‘i outside hitter Kalei Greeley and Long Beach State libero Tyler Jackson turned in the top performances from around the league to earn this week’s women’s volleyball awards.
Hinger Helps Matadors To Pair of Road Wins
CSUN senior Casey Hinger (Fullerton, Calif./Valencia HS) earned Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week accolades after hitting a combined .346 in road victories over Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine to open up conference play.
Hinger averaged 3.12 kills, 2.88 digs, 1.00 blocks and 0.50 service aces per set in an all-around solid performance that bumped CSUN’s overall record this season to 11-3.
She produced 11 kills on .375 hitting in a sweep of the Titans on Friday. Hinger added two aces, seven digs and three blocks to her total.
Against the Anteaters, Hinger totaled 14 kills and 16 digs for her team-leading fifth double-double of the season to spearhead a come-from-behind five-set win. Hinger’s 14 kills in 28 attacks came with just five errors as she swung at .321 clip, marking the eighth time this year she has hit .300 or better in a match.
Others nominated: Bre Mackie (Long Beach State); Britton Taylor (UC Santa Barbara); Tai Manu-Olevao (Hawai‘i)
Greeley Excels For Rainbow Wahine
Hawai‘i outside hitter Kalei Greeley (Riverside, Calif./King HS) helped her team sprint out to a 2-0 start in conference play as the Big West Women’s Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week.
Greeley compiled a .314 hitting percentage (20-4-51) while averaging 3.33 kills, 3.50 digs and 0.50 blocks per set in Rainbow Wahine road victories over UC Davis and UC Riverside.
She produced eight kills and nine digs in a sweep of the Aggies. Greeley also hit .333 with just one error in the match.
In a three-set victory against the Highlanders, Greeley turned in her first double-double of the campaign with 12 kills and 12 digs, and she added a pair of blocks to the effort. Greeley also hit .300 (12-3-30) against UCR.
Others nominated: Taylor Nelson (Cal Poly); Niki Withers (Cal State Fullerton); Ashley Murray (Long Beach State)
Jackson’s Defensive Effort Spurs Long Beach State
For the second time this season, Long Beach State senior Tyler Jackson (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood HS) collected the Big West Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week award for her strong back row play.
Jackson averaged 5.43 digs per set in a pair of conference-opening road victories against UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton. She tied her season high with 24 scoops against the Anteaters in a four-set triumph.
Helping the 49ers sweep Cal State Fullerton, Jackson had 14 digs to go along with two service aces. She contributed heavily to a defensive effort that limited LBSU’s two opponents to a combined .176 hitting percentage.
Jackson, who ranks sixth in the Big West at 4.11 digs per set, has double-digit digs in 13 consecutive contests.
Others nominated: McKenna Painton (Cal State Fullerton); Ali Spindt (UC Santa Barbara); Sarah Mendoza (Hawai‘i)