Oct. 27, 2003
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore MB Lauren Brewster (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood H.S.) was named a BIG EAST Conference Co-Player of the Week on Monday after helping Notre Dame (17-2, 6-0) to a trio of road victories over fall break. Brewster, who had 36 kills on .371 hitting to go with 27 blocks in accounting for 55 points, has won the award three times in the last four weeks, missing out on an idle week for the Irish.
The Notre Dame middle blocker had an outstanding week at the net, racking up nine solo blocks and 18 block assists — an average of 2.70 per game — to up her season total to 119 total blocks. Her average of 1.83 should move her into the top spot in the Division I national leaders this week after being third a week ago. Last week’s national leader, Rachel Wagener of Maryland, is averaging 1.76.
Brewster helped Notre Dame to 47 blocks last week, an average of 4.70. The Irish are averaging 3.71 blocks per game, the best mark in the nation. Last week, the second-best team in Division I, Cornell, was averaging 3.32.
Offensively, Brewster has been outstanding of late. Last week, she hit over .350 in every match, averaging 3.60 kills per game. Against North Carolina, she had a career-high 20 kills on .361 hitting to go along with 10 blocks for her second double-double of the year. In Thursday’s contest at Rhode Island, Brewster hit .412 with nine kills, six blocks, and three digs. The following day against Boston College, she had seven kills and just one error, while adding 11 blocks.
In addition to averaging 0.58 blocks per game more than any other BIG EAST player, Brewster is among the top three league leaders in hitting percentage (2nd, .366) and points per game (3rd, 4.89).
Since conference play started, Brewster has been particularly effective. In league matches only, she ranks among the top six in four categories. Brewster is first in blocks (2.23) and hitting percentage (.451), third in points (5.61), and sixth in service aces (0.32).
Notre Dame has dominated the BIG EAST player of the week award this season, capturing at least a share of it in six of nine weeks (while not playing any matches in one week).
Brewster is just the third Irish player ever to be named BIG EAST player of the week three times in a season. She joins Mary Leffers (1999) and Kristy Kreher (2001) in that group.
Brewster and St. John’s sophomore Jackie Ahlers are the only two players to win the award three times this season. It was the fourth league honor copped by Brewster in her collegiate career. She also was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Oct. 28 of last season.
Also earning co-player-of-the-week honors with Brewster was Pittsburgh setter Lindsey Macke. Virginia Tech freshman Katie Esbrook was named rookie of the week by the conference on Monday.
Brewster and Notre Dame, 14th in the latest AVCA national rankings, return home this week to begin a four-match homestand, beginning on Wednesday against Illinois State at 7 p.m. (EST).