Emory University sophomore Tara Martin (Jacksonville Beach, FL) and senior Elyse Thompson (Tallahassee, FL) were awarded the University Athletic Association's final Players of the Week for 2019 following their efforts at the NCAA D-III Championship. It represented the third time this season and in her career that Martin has been tabbed for the honor while Thompson was recognized for the third time this year and sixth in her career.
The 5-foot-9 Martin tied for the team lead with an average of 3.38 kills and hit a club-high .333 (44-11--99) over 13 sets of action. In addition, she averaged 1.00 digs and 0.54 blocks per game as Emory finished runner-up in the national tourney. Martin opened the Championships ranking second on the team with 18 successful attack attempts, hitting .273 (18-6--44) and chipping in four digs in a 3-2 decision over Clarkson in the quarterfinals. She followed that effort with huge outing in a dramatic five-victory over Carthage College in the semis, topping the squad in both kills (16) and hitting percentage (.452, 16-2--31), while adding six digs and three block assists. In the title showdown against undefeated Johns Hopkins, Martin totaled a team-high 10 terminations, her 20th double-figure effort of the campaign, posted a hitting mark of .292 (10-3--24) and tallied six digs.
On the year, Tara finished third on the team and fourth among UAA players in kills average (3.13 kps) while her team-best attack percentage of .303 (407-114--968) slotted her ninth on the league ladder.
The 5-foot-7 Thompson also logged 13 sets of competition and averaged a team-high 3.23 digs while adding 10 assists and three service aces. Thompson led Emory with 18 digs and handled all 27 of her reception attempts perfectly in the five-set verdict over Clarkson before pacing the club with 15 defensive saves and nine assists in the thrilling 3-2 outcome over Carthage. In the title showdown against undefeated Johns Hopkins, Elyse produced a team-leading nine digs.
Thompson wound up the season playing in 126 of the squad's 135 sets and averaging a team-leading 4.37 digs per game, good for fifth place among UAA players. She finished her career as the program's all-time leader with 1,867 digs.
Emory closed out the season with an overall record of 34-3.