Oct. 9, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind.- Freshman Serinity Phillips (Valley Center, Calif./Valley Center), after helping the Notre Dame Fighting Irish volleyball team (11-5, 5-0 BIG EAST) to two conference wins this past week, was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week this afternoon, Oct. 9, by the conference office.
Phillips had a strong seventh week of the season, as she totaled 20 kills (2.86 per game) and 11 blocks (1.57 per game), while hitting .327 in victories over Marquette and Syracuse. Phillips’ 20 kills were third on the team and her 11 blocks were tied for the team lead for the week with sophomore Justine Stremick (Langdon, N.D./Langdon Area).
Phillips began her week with nine kills, six digs and three blocks, while hitting .318 in a four-game victory over Marquette. She finished off her week, as she had 11 kills and 8 blocks in a sweep of Syracuse. The eight blocks were not just a career best, but also an impressive total for an outside hitter.
The freshman is the second Irish volleyball player to be named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week this season, as fellow freshman Christina Kaelin (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) was named rookie of the week on both Aug. 28 and Sept. 4. This is the third time, since 1996, that two different Irish players have been named rookie of the week in the same season (2003 – Lauren Brewster & Lauren Kelbley and 1997 – Christi Girton & Denise Boylan).
Notre Dame volleyball returns to the Joyce Center for a match this weekend, as the Irish host DePaul (4-16, 0-5 BIG EAST) on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Comcast Local will also show the match on a tape-delayed basis.