Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop volleyball snagged two conference weekly awards as
Nikkia Benitez was tabbed the Big South Conference Player of the Week and
Leah Metzger picked up Libero of the Week honors, announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Benitez was named to the UVA Tournament All-Tournament Team and selected as the MVP after helping the Eagles to wins over Akron, William & Mary and Virginia. In the three games, Benitez averaged 4.40 kills per set, 3.9 digs per set and had a team-high 46.5 points. The fifth-year outside hitter finished with a .340 hitting percentage and a .985 serve receive percentage (team-high 67 attempts). Benitez also posted a double-double in each of the three games starting with 11 kills and 11 digs in the win over Akron. She followed that up with a career-high 18 kills and had 13 digs in the win over William & Mary. Benitez capped off her weekend with 15 kills and 15 digs in the win over UVA.
Metzger continued with her steady defensive efforts as she recorded double-digit digs in all three matches (3.8 digs per set) and totaled eight service aces. Metzger set a career-high in aces in a match with four in the win over UVA. She has double-digit digs in all six matches this year and has done so in her last 11 matches.
This is the second time in her Winthrop career that Benitez has earned Big South Player of the Week honors and it is also the second time for Metzger being named Libero of the Week.
