Post by Thrill of the 'ville on Oct 2, 2006 12:59:29 GMT -5
VB's Cusack Named SEC Freshman of the Week
Monday October 2, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
University of Florida freshman libero Elyse Cusack (Melrose, Fla.) returned after missing four matches because of an injury to help lead the Gators to wins against No. 17 Tennessee and Kentucky last weekend and was named the Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Week for her efforts on Monday afternoon.
Cusack, who led the SEC in digs per game prior to her injury, finished with a team-high 14 digs against the 17th-ranked Lady Vols in a 3-0 Florida victory. In just nine career matches at the libero spot, Cusack has led or tied for the team high in digs in all nine contests. One of the team's best passers, Cusack played the libero spot in the final game of UF's match at Kentucky and then for all three games against the Lady Vols and the Gators posted a hitting efficiency of .345 in those games.
Cusack is averaging 5.24 digs per game in 2006 - a mark that would break the SEC record of 5.12 digs per game set by Florida's Rachel Engel in 2005. In the 10 career matches Cusack has played, she's finished in double figures in digs in every match. Of the nine matches Cusack has played at libero, she has out-dug the opposing team's counterpart in eight matches.
The honor is the second for Cusack this season after she was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6.
The Gators (12-2 overall, 5-1 SEC) return to action this weekend when UF travels to Mississippi State on Friday for an 8 p.m. (ET) contest before taking on Mississippi on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (ET). The contest against the Bulldogs can be heard on Rock 104, while the match against the Rebels will air on WRUF-AM 850. Both can also be heard on www.GatorZone.com.
Monday October 2, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
University of Florida freshman libero Elyse Cusack (Melrose, Fla.) returned after missing four matches because of an injury to help lead the Gators to wins against No. 17 Tennessee and Kentucky last weekend and was named the Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Week for her efforts on Monday afternoon.
Cusack, who led the SEC in digs per game prior to her injury, finished with a team-high 14 digs against the 17th-ranked Lady Vols in a 3-0 Florida victory. In just nine career matches at the libero spot, Cusack has led or tied for the team high in digs in all nine contests. One of the team's best passers, Cusack played the libero spot in the final game of UF's match at Kentucky and then for all three games against the Lady Vols and the Gators posted a hitting efficiency of .345 in those games.
Cusack is averaging 5.24 digs per game in 2006 - a mark that would break the SEC record of 5.12 digs per game set by Florida's Rachel Engel in 2005. In the 10 career matches Cusack has played, she's finished in double figures in digs in every match. Of the nine matches Cusack has played at libero, she has out-dug the opposing team's counterpart in eight matches.
The honor is the second for Cusack this season after she was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6.
The Gators (12-2 overall, 5-1 SEC) return to action this weekend when UF travels to Mississippi State on Friday for an 8 p.m. (ET) contest before taking on Mississippi on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (ET). The contest against the Bulldogs can be heard on Rock 104, while the match against the Rebels will air on WRUF-AM 850. Both can also be heard on www.GatorZone.com.
I'm happy about this, UF really needed her back and she came back huge helping edge out UK and sweeping Tenn.
