For the second straight week, Ashley Mass (Iowa State) and Michelle Kocher (Texas) have been honored as the Big 12 Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Kocher’s teammate Lauren Paolini has been named Player of the Week for matches of Nov. 24-30. All three student-athletes have received accolades from the conference for their efforts prior to this week -- Mass (six times), Kocher (five), and Paolini (two). It marks the final awards of the 2008 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren Paolini, Texas, MB, Sr., 6-5, Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline
Paolini highlighted No. 3 Texas’ offensive attack last week in its Big 12-title clinching victories at Missouri and against Colorado. The two-time All-Big 12 honoree recorded 3.57 kills per set, committing just two attack errors while hitting at a .605 clip. Paolini also contributed 1.14 blocks per set to the Longhorns’ effort. In the win over the Tigers, Paolini registered 12 kills and a .435 hitting percentage in addition to posting six block assists, four digs and two assists. On senior night, the All-America middle blocker tallied her eighth errorless Big 12 match. Paolini connected on 13-of-15 swings while hitting at a career-best .867 mark, which also led the conference last week. She added two blocks and a dig to her performance.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ashley Mass, Iowa State, L, So., 5-8, Muskego, Wis./Muskego
Mass posted 6.00 digs while recording 1.67 assists and 0.50 service aces per set. The 2008 Big 12 Libero of the Year had 18 digs and three service aces in ISU’s upset victory at No. 13 Kansas State. Mass was perfect on serve receive in the sweep, converting all 16 of her attempts. She also had four assists in the contest. Mass then wrapped up the regular season with 18 digs again in the sweep of Kansas on Saturday. The Muskego, Wis. native also had six assists.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michelle Kocher, Texas, S, Fr., 5-10, Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis
Kocher guided the Longhorns’ offense to a .357 team hitting percentage, which ranked second in the conference last week She averaged a league-leading 12.71 assists along with 1.57 digs and 0.86 blocks per set. In the road victory at Missouri, Kocher amassed 54 assists, eight digs and four total blocks. The 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year also chipped in three kills while pacing UT to a .355 hitting mark. Against Colorado, Kocher tallied 35 assists, three kills, three digs and two total blocks. The Longhorns hit at a .359 clip for the match.