University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware's Alissa Alker Named CAA Defensive Player of the Week
9/19/2011 6:49:00 PM | Volleyball
RICHMOND, Va. - - Helping lead the University of Delaware volleyball team to a 3-1 record this week, Alissa Alker was named as the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.
Delaware (5-9) defeated Temple, 3-0, in a midweek matchup at home before traveling to the Pitt Blue and Gold Tournament for the Hens final regular season tournament. They opened the tournament with a sweep of Kent State on Friday night. They dropped a 3-1 decision to New Mexico and roared back from a 2-0 hole to defeat host Pittsburgh in the nightcap, 3-2, on Saturday.
This is the first time in her career Alker (above right) has been named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week.
For the week, the outside hitter tied the team high with 18 total blocks in the four matches. She was a part of 17 block assists while tallying one solo block as well. She also collected 49 digs, averaging a team's third best 3.27 per set. Alker was targeted on 66 service attempts while committing only two errors.
In the opening game of the week, Alker denied six attack attempts against the Owls. It was her highest block total since the opening match of the season when she collected seven against Rice. The junior continued to pick up four total blocks in each of the remaining three games over the weekend.
Alker had a week's best 17 digs in the final contest against Pittsburgh on Saturday night. As the team stormed back from a 2-0 deficit, Alker remained as a rock on serve receptions, not committing an error on 23 attempts.
Although she earned the week's CAA Defensive Player of the Week, she was no slouch on the attack as well. She collected double digit kills in each match over the weekend, including a season high 18 against Pitt.
She also notched nine service aces on the week, doubling her total on the season. She hit a career best four against Temple to kick start the week, and outdid herself one match later with five against Kent State.
The six-rotation player has been filling the stat sheet in almost every category this season, as she is second on the team in kills (164) and digs (3.28 per set), and third on the team in blocks (41). She leads all Blue Hens with her 18 aces.
Alker and the rest of the Blue Hens return to action and Viera Court on Tuesday when they host in-state rival Delaware State in the Route 1 Rivalry match starting at 7 p.m.
