Harper, Pickett capture AstroTurf SAC weekly honors
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second time this season, the Carson-Newman volleyball has sweep the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference weekly awards. Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) takes home her third Player of the Week honor while senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) gets her second Specialist of the Week.
VIDEO: Rachel Harper Interview
VIDEO: Kristen Pickett Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second time this season, the Carson-Newman volleyball has sweep the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference weekly awards. Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) takes home her third Player of the Week honor while senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) gets her second Specialist of the Week.
"It's nice to know that the team's name is getting out there," Harper said of the accolade. "We didn't play as well as we would have liked this week so it's crazy to think we earned it."
Harper recorded a double-double in each of the three matches last week bringing her season total to six. The senior began the week with 13 kills, 16 digs, three service aces and two block assists in a sweep of Lincoln Memorial. In a three-set victory against Anderson, the Chattanooga, Tenn. native notched 14 kills, 12 digs and matched a career-high with five service aces. With C-N leading 14-12 in the first set at Newberry, Harper tallied her 100th career service ace. She finished the match by tying a season-high with 17 kills on a week-best .297 attack percentage, 16 digs and four block assists.
"I really think it's a team effort," Harper said of the consistent exposure. "It's not an individual award at all. It's just showing that we are working together and our chemistry is really good on and off the court."
Against the Railsplitters, Pickett notched 37 assists and eight digs. At Anderson, the senior setter tallied her team-leading seventh double-double of the year with 37 assists and 12 digs. To conclude the week, the Cleveland, Tenn. native racked up 38 assists, nine digs and one solo block. Pickett has now piled up 30 or more assists on 13 occasions.
"It's cool to get it, but our goal is to get on top of the conference," Pickett said of the honors. "It's our goal to do the best we can and hold ourselves to the highest standard."
Carson-Newman has now had a player honored with a weekly award six times which is more than the Eagles have had in a single season in program history. Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) was the Player of the Week on September 30.
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