Sept. 6, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Junior Jesse Earl of the Auburn Volleyball team was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
Earl, a libero from Indianapolis, Ind., helped guide the Tigers to a 3-1 record last week. That mark included a come-from-behind win over No. 21 Louisville at the Active Ankle Challenge in Louisville, Ky.
Earl finished with a 4.94 digs/set average over 17 sets played and had two 20+ dig performances for the Tigers. In Auburn's five-set victory over Kennesaw State (8/30), she led the team with 26 digs and chipped in three service aces. Against a tough Santa Clara team Saturday, Earl picked up her first double-double of the season, having a season-high 28 digs and 14 assists.
In addition to 14 digs against Stony Brook to open the Active Ankle Challenge (9/2), Earl tied a career-high with four service aces in the team's 3-0 victory over the Seawolves. She concluded the week with 16 digs against Louisville (9/3) and added four assists and one kill in the win.
This season, Earl leads all SEC student-athletes with a 5.11 digs/set average.
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena, Sept. 9-10, and host the Auburn Invitational. The team opens with a pair of matches vs. Memphis and Miami (OH) Friday and close out the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. match vs. Jacksonville.
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