Paz Named AVCA National Player of the Week
11/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On the heels of earning her first ever Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor Monday (Nov. 23), University of Michigan volleyball senior outside hitter Juliana Paz (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) has been named AVCA National Offensive Player of the Week in a statement released by the organization Tuesday (Nov. 24). Paz becomes the first Wolverine to ever earn the coveted award.
Paz was the driving force behind a pair of U-M wins last weekend, the second straight weekend sweep by the Wolverines. In the first match, Paz tallied a team-high 19 kills and a .371 attack percentage in U-M's five-set nationally televised victory over rival Michigan State. Paz then reeled off a career-high 23 kills in U-M's three-set sweep of No. 12 Minnesota on Senior Night. Paz hit .450 in the match and just missed a double-double, contributing nine defensive digs.
For the week, Paz posted 42 kills, averaging 5.62 per set while hitting at a .413 clip. Paz also added 16 digs and four blocks for 45.5 points. She currently leads Michigan and ranks second among Big Ten attackers with 439 kills this season.
Paz and the Wolverines close the regular season this weekend, beginning Friday (Nov. 27) when they travel to Ohio State before facing No. 1 Penn State at Rec Hall Saturday night (Nov. 28). Both matches begin at 7 p.m. with MGoBlue.com carrying a live radio broadcast and live stats of each match.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
