CAC -- The Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) has announced its weekly awards following the eighth week of the 2019 women's volleyball season. Christopher Newport freshman setter Sammy Carroll earned CAC Offensive Player of the Week accolades for the third time this year, while Christopher Newport sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Wright claimed CAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sammy Carroll - Christopher Newport

Christopher Newport freshman setter Sammy Carroll helped carry CNU to a 2-0 week as she racked up 68 total assists (9.71/set) to go with five kills, two aces, 16 digs, and two blocks. In a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia, she tallied 33 assists (11.00/set) in addition to three kills and four digs. She followed on Saturday in a 3-0 win against Mary Washington with 35 assists (8.75/set), two kills, two aces, 12 digs, and two blocks. She leads the league overall and in conference play in assists at 9.77 and 10.52 assists per set respectively.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mackenzie Wright - Christopher Newport

Christopher Newport sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Wright helped carry CNU to a 2-0 week as she racked up 14 total blocks (2.00/set) to go with 14 kills (2.00/set) on a .458 hitting percentage. In a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia, she tallied 10.0 points on eight kills (.385 hitting percentage) and four blocks. She followed on Saturday in a 3-0 win over Mary Washington with a CAC season-high 10 blocks, four of the solo variety, to go with six kills (.545 hitting percentage) and 13.0 points. In conference play, she ranks second in blocks per set at 1.35 and fifth in hitting percentage at .279.

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE: Hannah Siaurusaitis (YCP), Blair Pausic (SAL), Krista Rodgers (UMW), Kaely Rath (SVU)

DEFENSE: Emily Pupo (YCP), Hailey Dougherty (SAL), Taryn Warner (SVU)

LEAGUE NOTES

Salisbury freshman Blair Pausic combined for 75 total assists across two contests last week, including 56 assists in a five-set victory over St. Mary's. Pausic also contributed a pair of kills and 12 digs...Hailey Dougherty totaled 37 digs in two contests last week while averaging 4.63 digs per set across eight sets. Dougherty continues to lead the conference in both categories...Krista Rodgers led Mary Washington with a .406 hitting average this week as the Eagles split two matches. She had four kills without an error in a 3-0 win over Salisbury, and added 12 in a four-game loss to CNU. She also added five block assists, including four against CNU on Saturday...Kaely Rath served as a catalyst on offense for Southern Virginia. She collected eight kills on the road at Christopher Newport and then followed with 10 kills while hitting .333 in the sweep of the Spartans. On the week, Rath averaged three kills per set and posted a hitting percentage of .255. The Junior added three digs and four blocks for the Knights...Taryn Warner produced another consistent week for the Knights anchoring the defense on the front line. The Junior collected eight total blocks on the week in only six sets averaging 1.33 blocks per set. Her play helped guide Southern Virginia to a 1-1 week as the Knights fell to the Captains earlier in the week and then bounced back to sweep the Spartans.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Sept. 2: OFF: Amanda Chew (SAL), DEF: Hailey Dougherty (SAL)
Sept. 9: OFF: Amanda Chew (SAL), DEF: Hailey Dougherty (SAL)
Sept. 16: OFF: Elle Warnick (SVU), DEF: Taryn Warner (SVU)
Sept. 23: OFF: Sammy Carroll (CNU), DEF: Riley Garrison (CNU)
Sept. 30: OFF: Katie Crofford (CNU), DEF: Mykynli Knight (SVU)
Oct. 7: OFF: Sammy Carroll (CNU), DEF: Hailey Dougherty (SAL)
Oct. 14: OFF: Megan O'Hara (CNU), DEF: Katie Crofford (CNU)
Oct. 21: OFF: Sammy Carroll (CNU), DEF: Mackenzie Wright (CNU)