North Carolina State University Athletics
Alex Smith Named ACC Co-Player of the Week
8/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NC State senior setter Alex Smith has been named ACC Co-Player of the Week for the week ending Aug. 30, the league office announced today. She shares the honor with Florida State's junior outside hitter Visnja Djurdjevic.
This marks the first time since Sept. 29, 2008, a member of the Wolfpack volleyball squad has garnered ACC Player of the Week honors. That week, middle blocker Aiwane Iboaya was recognized for her efforts in NC State wins against Boston College and Maryland.
Though she has been the starting setter for the Wolfpack the last three seasons, Smith has seamlessly made the transition to right side hitter this year at the urging of first-year head coach Bryan Bunn. With the addition of Colorado transfer setter Megan Cyr to the roster, the change made the most sense and, statistically speaking, has worked out thus far.
Last seson, Smith averaged 1.25 kills per set and 7.26 assists per set. In the Western Carolina Tournament, she scored an average of 3.75 kills each frame. Furthermore, she earned only five solo blocks in the 2009 season, but scored one this weekend, a promising start to the 2010 season.
Her offensive contributions helped lead the Wolfpack to a perfect record during the Western Carolina Tournament, marking the first time in 15 years NC State has started a season 3-0.
In the three-game sweep of Eastern Kentucky, Smith scored 12 kills, while hitting at a .450 mark. She also tallied six digs and three blocks in the match.
While leading the Wolfpack to a 3-0 victory versus Western Carolina, she tallied a match-high 14 kills in addition to seven digs, two assists, and four total blocks.
After averaging 3.75 kills per set and scoring 30 over the course of the weekend, Smith was named MVP of the Western Carolina Tournament, a first for her career.
NC State returns to action Friday, Sept. 3 to take on Illinois State as a part of the Indiana Tournament.
