FRISCO, Texas – Following an undefeated three-match week of conference play, junior
Kyndal Payne won SLC Offensive Player of the Week while graduate
Belle Morgan earned SLC Setter of the Week, announced by the league office Monday.
It is the second time this year that the two won an award in the same week. It marks Payne's second nod of the season while it is Morgan's fifth time to be honored. Morgan is the only player in the league to have repeated a weekly award five times this year.
The accolades come after the Islanders posted three sweeps last week, extending their winning streak to 12. It helped them move into a tie for first place in the Southland standings with four matches left in the regular season.
Payne averaged 4.50 kills per set 5.06 points per set, turning in a .417 hitting percentage through the undefeated week. She recorded at least eight kills and five digs in all three matches including a 19-kill,12-dig double-double against HCU. At the net, she tallied three blocks against both UIW and Nicholls to finish with seven on the week.
She continues to lead the league in kills, kills pet set, points, and points per set. Payne also ranks 21
st nationally in total kills with 358 and 32
nd in total points with 400.5.
"Kyndal is an outstanding all-around player and is so humble with her accolades," said head coach
Steve Greene. "She is so deserving of Player of the Week as she put up stellar numbers with kills as well as being extremely efficient. She creates a very difficult matchup for other teams whether she's attacking from the left side, right side, or even the back row."
Morgan ran the offense to a .381 team hitting percentage on the perfect week. She recorded 121 assists for a 13.44/set mark as well as added nine kills herself for an individual .438 hitting clip. She picked up seven digs against both UIW and HCU and had six service aces through the three matches, including four against Nicholls.
She leads the SLC in assists (586), recording at least 80 more than the rest of the league for a conference-best 12.47 assist/set average on the year. Morgan ranks 12
th nationally in total assists with 956 and 15
th with her overall assists pet set mark (10.62).
"Belle distributed the offense so well this week," said Greene. "She put our hitters in successful positions when we were both in and out of system. She has really continued to improve and showcase her all-around game and how impactful a setter can be."
Nearing the end of the season, the Islanders will play two on the road and two at home to round it out. They will first play in a first-place matchup at Southeastern Thursday as both teams lead the rankings with a 13-1 SLC record.
Click here for the full Southland Conference release.
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