Emory University junior Leah Saunders (Simpsonville, SC) has been named by the University Athletic Association as the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week following her performances over a three-match stretch. It is the second time this season and in her career that she has been selected for the honor.
The 5-foot-8 Saunders played a key role in the Eagles' 3-0 mark, which included a pair of wins at the University Athletic Association Round Robin II. Saunders played in all of the team's 11 sets and finished with a squad-best average of 4.00 kills per game. Saunders, who hit .326 (44-16--86) over the three contests, averaged 2.27 digs per set (second on the Emory score sheet) and doled out five service aces.
After leading a balanced Eagles' attack with 10 terminations in a sweep of Lee University, Saunders opened the Round Robin II with a stellar outing in a 3-1 triumph against Washington University, tying her career-high with 21 kills, which topped all performers, hitting .342 (21-8--38) and chipping in nine digs (second on the club). In the RR II finale against NYU, she logged her third double-double of the campaign, registering 13 successful attack attempts and totaling 11 digs in a four-set win vs. the Violets. Her kills total in the NYU affair represented her fourth straight and eighth double-digit effort of the season.
So far this year, Saunders tops Emory and is tied for second in the UAA with an average of 3.19 kills per set.
No. 1-ranked Emory returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 10) when it hosts Birmingham Southern in a 6:00 pm start.