IRVINE, Calif. – Career highs in kills and digs from Cal State Fullerton sophomore Shimen Fayad helped the Titan volleyball team win its first conference opener in five years and earned her Big West Women's Volleyball Player of the Week honors, it was announced by the league today.
The 6-foot outside hitter tallied 27 kills and 22 digs to spearhead Fullerton to a four-set victory over UC Riverside on Saturday. It was Fayad's team-leading ninth double-double of the year.
The win over the Highlanders snapped a 19-match Big West Conference losing streak that dated back to Nov. 15, 2014.
Fayad, who hit a torrid .390 for the match with just four errors in 59 attempts, became even more productive as the match wore on.
She was responsible for 10 of Fullerton's 13 kills, including match point, in the fourth and final set. She hit .769 in that set.
The Victoria, B.C., native averages 3.59 kills per set to lead the Titans and rank sixth in the Big West Conference.
This is Cal State Fullerton's first Player of the Week honor in 2016 as well as the first for Fayad in her Titan career.
CSUN's Katie Sato captured her first career Big West Women's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week honor, while Hawai'i setter Norene Iosia was named Big West Women's Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week.
Others nominated: Raeann Greisen (Cal Poly); Aeryn Owens (CSUN); Nele Barber (Long Beach State); McKenna Granato (Hawai'i)
Cal State Fullerton returns to action this week hosting UC Irvine at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Titan Gym before traveling to Hawai'i for a 10 p.m. (PT) match at the Stan Sheriff Center.