Oct. 12, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior setter Jamel Nicholas was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for her efforts in leading Notre Dame to volleyball wins over Cincinnati and Louisville, the league announced Monday.
Notre Dame (11-4) is the lone undefeated team in the conference with a 5-0 record heading into this weekend’s action at Pittsburgh (Oct. 17) and West Virginia (Oct. 18).
Nicholas, a native of Gibsonia, Pa., became the first setter this season to be named Player of the Week. The team captain set up her teammates 97 times over just nine frames this past weekend.
Against 2008 regular-season champion Cincinnati (Oct. 10), Nicholas did it all by chipping in three kills, three service aces, eight digs and two blocks to go along with 52 helpers. In the 3-2 win over the Bearcats, she assisted teammate Serinity Phillips on her 1,000th career kill.
Nicholas also speared the Bearcats with three aces in the final set to spur a 6-0 Irish run which closed the match.
In a live broadcast on ESPNU against reigning BIG EAST Champion Louisville (Oct. 11), Nicholas chipped in a double-double with 45 assists and 14 digs. She also added four points of her own in the 3-1 victory with two kills and two service aces.
Nicholas ranks third in league play with 11.16 assists/set while the Irish are leading the conference with an overall hitting percentage of .264.
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