The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Thomas Named C-USA Defensive Player Of The Week
9/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2011
IRVING, Texas ---- Senior Heather Thomas was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week announced by the league office on Monday afternoon after earning MVP honors at the Creighton Classic over the weekend. It marks the first time in her career to earn the weekly award.
"We are obviously very excited for Heather," head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "She has been one of the best of players in the conference at her position over the past few years and [the award] is certainly well deserved. It says a lot for her and our program and she definitely leads a great defensive effort from our team."
Thomas averaged 6.73 digs per set as the Blazers defense held opponents to an attacking clip of just .128 over a perfect 3-0 weekend for the Blazers. The Blazers knocked off Creighton, Drake and McNeese State to close out non-conference play with a 10-2 record, the best start to a season through 12 matches since 2005.
The Madison, Ala. native recorded match highs in each contest for UAB as Thomas corralled 24-or-more digs versus each weekend opponent and upped her season digs average to 5.47 per set. She added five service aces, two extremely important ones against McNeese State on Friday afternoon. With the score knotted at 25 in the fourth set, Thomas stepped to the line and calmly laced back-to-back aces to claim the victory and avoid a deciding set with the Cowgirls.
She now has 1,746 digs for her career, 12th all-time in Conference USA history and second amongst active players. It is the second all-tournament team Thomas has been named to this season.
