Oct. 8, 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 (12-2, 4-0) to a pair of road victories in the second weekend of league play. Brewster, who had 24 kills on .457 hitting to go with 15 blocks in accounting for 35.5 points, continued the Irish domination of the award as the fourth Notre Dame winner in six weeks this season.
The Irish middle blocker turned in the best hitting match of her career in helping Notre Dame to a 3-1 win Sunday at Connecticut. She matched her career high with 17 kills and set a new career best with a .596 hitting percentage, making just one error in 27 attempts. Brewster, the conference leader in the category, also was in on eight blocks. In all, she accounted for 24 points.
In Saturday’s straight-game victory at St. John’s, Brewster had seven kills and was in on seven of 10 Irish blocks.
Brewster, who set the Irish record for block assists in a season last year, ranks sixth in the nation in blocks per game at 1.61. She is a main reason Notre Dame is listed second nationally as a team in the category, at 3.44. Brewster has had four or more blocks in 11 of 14 matches this season.
In addition to averaging 0.34 blocks per game more than any other BIG EAST player, Brewster is among the league leaders in hitting percentage (6th, .333) and points per game (8th, 4.59).
Since conference play started, Brewster has been particularly effective. In league matches only, she ranks among the top five in four categories. Brewster is first in blocks (1.92), second in hitting percentage (.396), third in service aces (0.46), and fifth in points (5.46).
The award marked the second league honor copped by Brewster in her collegiate career. She 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’s Ashley Hatlestad. Seton Hall freshman Katherine Whitney, who had 34 kills on Sunday to set a school record and tie the BIG EAST record, was named rookie of the week by the conference on Monday.
Brewster and Notre Dame, 15th in the latest AVCA national rankings, return home this weekend for two BIG EAST matches. The Irish will play host to Whitney and Seton Hall on Friday at 7 p.m. (EST) in the Joyce Center before welcoming Rutgers on Sunday for a 2 p.m. (EST) contest.