FULLERTON, Calif. – For the third time this season, Cal State Fullerton outside hitter Niki Withers was named the Big West Conference Freshman Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Withers nabbed her third award in four weeks to start the season. She was named to the Fullerton Classic Presented by Embassy Suites – North Orange County's All-Tournament Team after leading the weekend with 56 kills and a 4.67 kills per set average.
In Fullerton's five-set victory over Georgetown, Withers elevated her game to a new level as she recorded 25 kills, a new career high. In addition, Withers committed just six attacking errors in the match on a career-high 56 attacks, posting a .339 hitting percentage. It was Withers' third 20-kill performance of the season.
The Lakewood, Calif. native also recorded 18 kills in the Titans opening match against Yale and added 13 more kills in Fullerton's loss to No. 20 UCLA in the tournament finale. Withers has now recorded double-digit kills in all 13 of Fullerton's matches this season.
Others nominated: Raeann Greisen (Cal Poly); Anete Brinke (Long Beach State); Aspen Potter (UC Irvine); Alex Gresham (UC Riverside); Kalei Greeley (Hawai'i)