<i>Vann earns Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this season.</i><i>Vann earns Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this season.</i>
Volleyball

Vann Earns Defensive Player of the Week

Nov. 22, 2010

COLUMBIA, Mo. - For the fourth straight week, the Mizzou volleyball program has seen at least one of its student-athletes earn a Big 12 weekly award as senior libero Caitlyn Vann (Muncie, Ind.) was tabbed Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday (Nov. 22). The honor for Vann is the eighth of her career and fifth this season, more than any other player in the league during the 2010 season. This also marks the second-straight week that she has been honored as the league's top defensive player. Mizzou has now claimed 13 Big 12 weekly honors this season, a league-best in 2010.

Vann paced the league in digs per set last week at 6.17 while converting 48 of her 49 service reception chances in road matches at No. 8 Texas and Baylor. Her 6.17 digs per set average last week helped her regain the top spot in digs per set in the Big 12 during league play at 5.35, just ahead of Iowa State's Ashley Mass (5.22).

The Tiger libero turned in her best outing of the week at Baylor where she had 25 digs and was perfect in 20 serve receive attempts in the Mizzou sweep. Vann's performance helped the Tigers post a season-best 83 digs, which was four more than the Bears, who paced the Big 12 and were second in the nation entering the week in digs per set. The team output was also a program-high in a three-set match during the rally scoring era. Not only that, but Vann's 25 digs in the three set-match are just one off of her career-best in a three-set match (26), which was set against Kansas earlier this season. Vann also pulled in 12 digs in three sets at No. 8 Texas on Wednesday.

Vann is one of five Tiger seniors that will be recognized by the team at the annual senior night match against Oklahoma on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The match will also give the winner an inside path to a third-place finish in the Big 12 this season as fans are encouraged to come honor the seniors and cheer on the Tigers in a pivotal Big 12 showdown.

For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com.

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