Emory University senior middle hitter Breanah Bourque (Houston, TX) and freshman Taylor Erwin (Woodlands, TX) have been named by the University Athletic Association as Players of the Week following their performances in helping the Eagles to a 5-0 record that included a 3-0 mark at Juniata College's Wid Guisler Invitational.
The 5-foot-11 Bourque was chosen as the league's Co-Offensive Player of the Week after posting impressive numbers that included team-leading marks in kills (5.11 kps), attack percentage (.470) and blocks (0.76 bps) in helping Emory raise its overall record to 27-4. Included in her totals was a MVP performance at Juniata College's Wid Guisler Invitational where she averaged a team-high 5.09 kills, hit .484 (56-10--95) and a club-best 0.82 blocks per set. In a 3-0 win vs. No. 21 Juniata, she pounded out 16 terminations and totaled four blocks, and followed that performance by blasting away for 18 kills that accompanied a .630 attack percentage (18-1--27), the second-best mark by any Emory player this year, and five blocks in a 3-1 triumph vs. No. 23 Eastern. In the final match of the Invitational, she totaled 22 kills, tying her second-highest career total, and hit .571 (22-2--35) in a 3-1 triumph vs. Heidelberg. It is the third time this year and fifth in her career that she has captured UAA Player of the Week acclaim. Her effort over the course of the five matches upped her career kills total to 1,405, good for the No. 7 spot on the school's all-time list.
The 5-foot-10 Erwin turned in stellar defensive play from her libero post in claiming UAA Defensive Player of the Week kudos. She played in all 17 of the team's games and averaged a squad-best 4.65 digs per set. Erwin topped the Eagles in digs in three matches including back-to-back outings of 20 defensive saves in triumphs over Division II member Slippery Rock and NAIA foe Point Park University. She continued her heady defensive play at the Guisler Invitational, landing a spot on the all-tournament team, registering a team-high 14 digs in a 3-1 decision over Juniata followed later by 18 digs in the match vs. Heidelberg. Her 500 digs ranks fourth on the Emory seasonal list.
The Eagles return to action this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 26-27) when they host the Emory National Invitational.