BIRMINGHAM – Behind one of the program's best offensive performances in almost two decades, junior outside hitter Rebekah Rath was selected as Southeastern Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Rath shares the honor with LSU's Kylie Deberg.
In an epic performance in game one against Arkansas, Rath was virtually unstoppable on offense with 29 total kills. Rath attacked on a .240 hit percentage, committing just 11 errors in her 75 swings.
Rath's 29 kills were the second most recorded by a Tiger during the rally-scoring era. Her 29 kills were the most totaled in a single match by a Tiger since Ashlee Johns' single-match record of 30, which was totaled in a five-set contest at Arkansas on Oct. 8, 2004. Her 29 kills are the most recorded in a four-set match by any SEC student-athlete this season.
She closed the match with nine digs, an ace and four blocks to total a career high 32.0 total points in the match.
Rath totaled 20 kills in the series finale against the Razorbacks, marking her second straight contest with at least 20 kills. She has now totaled five matches with 20 or more kills. Rath added five blocks and one ace from the service line. The Altamonte Springs, Fla., native also chipped in 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
The recognition is the second for Rath this season. Rath is the first Tiger in program history to be named SEC Offensive Player of the Week twice in the same season. The SEC began distributing the award in 2004.
Rath currently leads the SEC in attacks per set (12.70), kills per set (4.51) points (320.5) and points per set (5.25), while ranking second in the league in both total attacks (772) and total kills (275). Nationally, Rath ranks in in the top 21 in all six of those categories.
Her 4.51 kills per set average also ranks the highest recorded in a season by a Tiger during the rally scoring era.
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena next weekend to host Missouri for a two-match series. The series begins Saturday, Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT. Both matches will air on SEC Network+.