Three Hilltoppers Garner CUSA Weekly Honors

DALLAS, Texas — Conference USA announced volleyball’s slate of weekly award winners Monday, as WKU went a perfect 4-0 from Tuesday’s midweek match up at Austin Peay and an undefeated three match slate at the inaugural Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic. A record three Hilltoppers were named to the Players of the Week list: Paige Briggs (offensive), Callie Bauer (setter), and Gabby Weihe (freshman).

Through four matches and a perfect 4-0 record for the Hilltoppers on the week, fifth-year outside hitter Paige Briggs swung for 74 total kills off of a .368 hitting clip, averaging 5.29 kills a set. The 5’11” hitter also marked a record-breaking match in the Tops’ defiant 3-1 win over Western Michigan, as she hit 35 kills in a single four-set match. She broke the the program’s single-match kills record by four, while also leading the NCAA in most kills in a four-set match this year. On top of kills, the Michigan native tallied on seven service aces and seven blocks through the week, averaging 6.14 points a set in four matches.

As the second-year starting setter for WKU, Callie Bauer totaled 175 assists, averaging 12.50 assists a set through four matches. The redshirt-sophomore also tacked on 25 kills from setter dumps to total 31.5 points along with a service ace and 10 blocks. Including the weekend, the Michigan native tallies up 523 assists on the season, placing her second in total assists in all of NCAA volleyball.

With the first weekly award of her career, Gabby Weihe started every match in the middle for the Red and White and piled on 19 kills through four matches. She operated with a .317 hitting clip, while pushing out her defensive skills at the net with seven blocks (two solo, five assist). She also produced her career high hitting average in a single match, hitting .538 (seven kills off of 13 swings) in her first error-free match against Western Michigan on Saturday.

Offensive Player of the Week: 

S18    Paige Briggs, WKU

Defensive Player of the Week:

S18    Darian Markham, NM State

Setter of the Week: 

S18   Callie Bauer, WKU

Freshman of the Week:

S18    Gabby Weihe, WKU