Complete OVC Weekly Release (PDF)

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- After leading the Eastern Illinois volleyball squad with 54 total digs last weekend, Panther libero Brittany Wallace garnered her first-ever Ohio Valley Conference 'Defensive Player of the Week' honor, as announced by the league office today (Nov. 2).

The sophomore has tallied double-digit dig numbers in her last 18 matches this season, which includes posting a new career high of 28 in the Panther's five-set home loss to Murray State last Saturday afternoon. Many of those ups have come about during several long and exciting rallies, which included many impressive diving digs and athletic saves.

Spanning her two-year Panther career, the Trenton, Ill. native has upped 20+ digs seven times, including six such match performances this season.

Wallace, who has been EIU's starting libero all season, sports a 4.39 and 4.68 digs-per-set average for all matches and OVC only contests, which ranks her No. 8 in both individual listings. As a team, meanwhile, the Panthers are ranked No. 4 and No. 5 in overall and OVC matches dig numbers, respectively.

This is the second individual honor earned by a current Panther volleyball player this season, as fellow sophomore Melanie Boykins was tabbed 'Offensive Player of the Week' back on September 21.

Eastern is finishing up the 2009 campaign on a season-long six-match homestand, having already hosted league rivals UT Martin and Murray State last weekend. This coming Friday and Saturday, the Panthers entertain Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, followed by Nov. 13 and 14 home matchups against Southeast Missouri and SIU-Edwardsville to wrap up the season.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID