The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Anna D'Cruz Earns C-USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week Honors
9/16/2019 11:47:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – On the heels of a successful 2019 Blazer Invitational where UAB picked up three wins over the weekend, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Anna D'Cruz has been selected Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week. D'Cruz is joined by junior middle blocker Destiny Leon of Marshall for the recognition.
"Anna has been working really hard to be impactful as a blocker at the net," said Pauly. "Her intent and hard work to get better is clearly showing."
For the second straight week, D'Cruz anchored the UAB defense through a tournament. The Atlanta, Ga., native piled up a team-high 16 blocks (1.14 per set) through three wins in four matches while controlling the middle. The Blazers' middle blocker mainstay led the team in blocks in two out of four matches, including a standout performance against Georgia State with seven total blocks. D'Cruz also assisted the offense through the tournament, hammering down 18 kills including six against Alabama.
D'Cruz had a major impact in the middle in both of UAB's tight matches against Georgia State (3-1) and ETSU (3-2), shutting down opposing rallies in key moments to help spur UAB to victory. Her defensive plays throughout the tournament served to continue and shift momentum at times, helping contribute to a weekend that saw UAB jump two games above .500 at 6-4 on the year.
On the season, D'Cruz continues to lead the team in total blocks this season with 37 (1.03 blocks per set) to date. On top of her defensive efforts, she has contributed to the Blazer attack as well with 46 kills. D'Cruz has vastly improved through her second year of on-court action as she notched a career-high eight blocks against Samford a week ago. Based on her play this season, D'Cruz's play is primed to continue to progress forward.
UAB's next competition will be in Starkville, Miss., as the Blazers compete in the Hail State Invitational hosted by Mississippi State. On Sept. 19, the UAB will take on North Florida on at 10 a.m. to open the tournament and Jackson State at 5 p.m. to finish the day. UAB will wrap up the tournament against host Mississippi State on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. Streaming and live stat information will be provided by Mississippi State.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
"Anna has been working really hard to be impactful as a blocker at the net," said Pauly. "Her intent and hard work to get better is clearly showing."
For the second straight week, D'Cruz anchored the UAB defense through a tournament. The Atlanta, Ga., native piled up a team-high 16 blocks (1.14 per set) through three wins in four matches while controlling the middle. The Blazers' middle blocker mainstay led the team in blocks in two out of four matches, including a standout performance against Georgia State with seven total blocks. D'Cruz also assisted the offense through the tournament, hammering down 18 kills including six against Alabama.
D'Cruz had a major impact in the middle in both of UAB's tight matches against Georgia State (3-1) and ETSU (3-2), shutting down opposing rallies in key moments to help spur UAB to victory. Her defensive plays throughout the tournament served to continue and shift momentum at times, helping contribute to a weekend that saw UAB jump two games above .500 at 6-4 on the year.
On the season, D'Cruz continues to lead the team in total blocks this season with 37 (1.03 blocks per set) to date. On top of her defensive efforts, she has contributed to the Blazer attack as well with 46 kills. D'Cruz has vastly improved through her second year of on-court action as she notched a career-high eight blocks against Samford a week ago. Based on her play this season, D'Cruz's play is primed to continue to progress forward.
UAB's next competition will be in Starkville, Miss., as the Blazers compete in the Hail State Invitational hosted by Mississippi State. On Sept. 19, the UAB will take on North Florida on at 10 a.m. to open the tournament and Jackson State at 5 p.m. to finish the day. UAB will wrap up the tournament against host Mississippi State on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. Streaming and live stat information will be provided by Mississippi State.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
Players Mentioned
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