Three Teams Share Inaugural #BIGEASTvb Weekly Awards
NEW YORK – Marquette’s Kaitlyn Lines wins the first BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week award for the 2019 season after lifting the Golden Eagles to a take down of then-No. 9 BYU and a 3-0 weekend. The BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week nod goes to DePaul’s Isabelle Banez, aiding her squad to an unbeaten weekend and Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational crown. Xavier’s Lauren Hanlon is the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week as the Musketeers went 2-1 on the weekend at the Utah State Tournament.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Kaitlyn Lines, Marquette, Jr., OH (Gilbert, Ariz.)
In her first weekend in a Marquette uniform, Kaitlyn Lines was named MVP of the BYU Nike Invitational after a stellar performance in the Golden Eagles victory over then-No.9 BYU. The junior posted 17 kills on 31 attacks for a .355 hitting percentage to go along with five digs, three blocks, and a service ace. In Friday evening’s match against Boise State, Lines held a game high 13 kills on .455 hitting and serving 1.000 with two aces. In a 3-0 weekend for Marquette, Lines averaged a.413 hitting percentage and 4.60 points per set good for second in the league.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Isabelle Banez, DePaul, Jr., L (Chicago, Ill.)
Named Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational MVP, Isabelle Banez anchored the Blue Demon defense en route to the tournament title and the program’s best start since 2013. The junior recorded a career best 32 digs in DePaul’s 3-2 win over Southeast Missouri State. Banez notched 21 digs to go along with five assists, and two service aces in the Blue Demons victory over host Missouri State. On the weekend, Banez averaged 4.77 digs per set.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Lauren Hanlon, Xavier, Fr., RS (Woodstock, Ill.)
In 10 sets of action, the rookie shined in her debut with 40 kills overall good for an average of 4.00 kills per set. Hanlon posted double digit kills in each outing headlined by a 16 kill performance in Xavier’s rout of Eastern Michigan. The Utah State All-tournament team honoree hit .333 and averaged 4.15 points per set to aid the Musketeers to a 2-1 opening weekend.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Anna Logan, Butler, Sr., OH (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Logan averaged 4.14 points, 3.36 kills, 2.45 digs per set while earning the All-Tournament Team nod at the War Eagle Invitational. The senior outside hitter recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 16 digs to go along with three block and two service aces in a five-set thriller against host Auburn.
Regan Lough, Villanova, Sr., L (Riverside, Calif.)
Lough piled up 63 digs in the Cowtown Classic at TCU, including 27 in a five-set victory over High Point. The senior libero followed up with another 21 digs in a five-set loss to TCU. Lough averaged 5.25 digs per set to help lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 opening weekend record.
Brittany Maxwell, DePaul, Sr., RS (Macomb, Mich.)
In her first competition since 2017, Maxwell totaled a team-high 49 kills in 14 sets to average 3.50 kills per set while posting 62.5 points over the weekend in lifting the Blue Demons to a 3-0 start. The Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational All-Tournament Team honoree recorded two double-doubles to begin the 2019 season with 24 kills and 16 digs in a win over Southeast Missouri State and 10 kills to go alongside 10 digs in a five set victory over host Missouri State.
Iva Vujosevic, Georgetown, Sr., OH (Bar, Montenegro)
Vujosevic led the Hoyas to a 3-1 start to the 2019 season with stellar play at the Georgetown Classic. The senior outside hitter averaged 4.08 kills per set and 3.42 digs per set in 12 sets of action this weekend. The all-tournament team honoree had a career performance in a five-set victory over Sacred Heart with 26 kills and a career-high 24 digs with two blocks and two aces. Vujosevic added nine kills and two service aces in the championship match against Central Arkansas.
Brittany Witt, Creighton, Sr., L (Omaha, Neb.)
The senior libero earned a spot on the Husker Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 4.43 digs and 0.71 assists per set in two matches against top-20 competition. Witt opened her senior campaign with 16 digs and three assists in four sets against No. 2 Nebraska, then contributed 15 digs and a pair of helpers in CU's three-set contest vs. No. 20 Baylor