Xavier’s Bessler, Villanova’s Decker Earn First #BIGEASTvb Weekly Honors
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Abbey Bessler, Xavier, Sr., OH (Hebron, Ky.)
Xavier outside hitter Abbey Bessler started her senior campaign on a high note with double-doubles in all three matches at the Illini Classic over the opening weekend. Bessler was named to the Illini Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 4.38 kills and 2.69 digs per set over three matches. Bessler averaged 4.69 points per set with a total of 57 kills and 35 digs with two aces and three blocks. She posted a 19 kill – 10 dig performance in a 3-1 loss to No. 14 Illinois, the only loss for the Musketeers last weekend. She posted a .277 hitting percentage over the course of three matches, with a .442 percentage with 22 kills against Arkansas in a 3-1 victory.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Emma Decker, Villanova, Fr., Setter (Chicago, Ill.)
Villanova freshman setter Emma Decker helped the Wildcats go 2-1 their opening weekend at the Bobcat Invitational. The freshman led the BIG EAST in assists per set with 12.44 adding 2.22 digs per set over three games against Florida Gulf Coast, No. 22 Western Kentucky and Ohio. Against the Lady Hilltoppers, despite the loss, Decker had 33 assists in three sets. Decker posted 112 assists in her first collegiate tournament.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Anna Logan, Butler, So., OH (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Logan led the conference in points/set (5.62) and kills/set with (5.15) as Butler went 1-2 over the weekend against Gonzaga, Idaho State and Utah. Logan was named to the Utah Classic All-Tourney Team. She had a career-best 29 kills in the season-opener against Gonzaga.
Jaali Winters, Creighton, So. OH (Ankeny, Iowa)
Against 2015 NCAA Tournament competition, Winters helped Creighton spit 1-1 as she earned All-Tournament Team accolades at the Iowa Sate Challenge. Winters averaged 3.78 kills, 2.78 digs, 0.22 blocks and 0.22 service aces per game.
Lauren Houg, Marquette, Sr., DS/L (Plymouth, Minn.)
Houg helped Marquette to a 2-1 weekend, highlighted by a win at No. 7 USC. Hough averaged 4.54 digs per set with 13 digs in the 3-1 upset over the Trojans. She was named to the all-tournament team.
Erica Di Maulo, St. John’s, Fr., Setter (Milan, Italy)
Di Maulo helped the Red Storm to a 2-0, six-game sweep weekend at the Byrant Hampton Inn-vitational earning all-tourney honors as she averaged 11.57 assists per set and 2.83 digs per set. Di Maulo had 39 assists against Rutgers.
Allie Loitz, Villanova, Jr., OH (Bonita, Calif.)
A Bobcat Invitational All-Tourney selection, Loitz had a double-double in two of the three matches in a 2-1 weekend for Villanova against Florida Gulf Coast, No. 22 Western Kentucky and at Ohio. Loitz averaged 4.72 points, 4.33 kills and 3.44 digs per set.