WACO, Texas -- Michelle Marques of the University of Texas-Brownsville earned recognition as the Red River Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for Oct. 22-28. Other weekly award selections included Vanja Joksic of UTB and Jessica Sodich of Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Texas) as RRAC Co-Hitters of the Week, Katarina Bursac of UTB and Taylor Calverley of SAGU as RRAC Co-Setters of the Week, and Paula Barros of UTB and Stephanie Dominguez of Texas Wesleyan University as RRAC Co-Liberos of the Week.
Marques, a junior right side from Minas Gerais, Brazil, was the top attacker for the Lady Scorpions as the nation's top-ranked team went 2-1 on a California road trip. Marques smacked 45 kills in 119 attempts with 13 errors (.269 hitting percentage) for the week. She had a high of 16 kills in a 3-1 win over Vanguard University (Calif.) in addition to 15 in a 3-2 loss to Concordia University (Calif.), UTB's first defeat of the season. Marques also collected 45 digs and six service aces. UTB remains unbeaten in conference play at 9-0 with a record of 21-1 on the season.
Joksic, a sophomore middle blocker from Gornji Milanovac, Serbia, posted a hitting percentage of .509 with 34 kills for UTB.
Sodich, a sophomore outside hitter from Ovilla, Texas, averaged 5.1 kills per game with 36 total kills in a 1-1 week for the Lady Lions. SAGU moved to 5-3 in the RRAC and 15-13 overall.
Bursac, a freshman setter from Belgrade, Serbia, posted 134 assists and 40 digs for the Lady Scorpions. Her match high assist total of 48 came against Concordia.
Calverley, a junior setter from Mansfield, Texas, registered 87 assists and 21 digs for SAGU. She reached 50 assists in a loss to Southern Nazarene University (Okla.).
Barros, a senior libero from Sao Paulo, Brazil, scooped 62 digs for UTB including 28 against Concordia. She made only two errors in 24 receiving attempts.
Dominguez, a junior libero from Houston, provided 15 digs in a loss to Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas). She didn't commit a single error in 26 receiving attempts. TWU slipped to a 5-3 conference mark with a record of 16-13 on the season.
Stephanie Biediger of the University of St. Thomas (Texas), Lynsay Buell of TWU, Shirley Paul of UST, and Katie Rosenbusch of TWU were additional player/hitter of the week nominees. Angelica Arroyo of TWU and Brittany Weiler of UST were nominated for setter of the week. Shirley Paul of UST was a libero nominee.
