Krystal Rivers Named SEC Offensive Player of the Week
9/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Redshirt sophomore Krystal Rivers has been named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after leading Alabama in kills last week as the MVP of the Crimson-White Tournament.
Rivers led the team with 67 kills over four matches last week while hitting .368 at the right side. She hit a season-high .615 in Tuesday's win over UAB, leading the team with 17 kills. In Friday's four-set win over San Diego State, she earned her third double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs while also adding a season-high seven blocks. In the weekend finale against Clemson, she knocked in 22 kills, her most in a four-set match this season.
Rivers is second in the SEC with 215 kills (4.13/set) and 262.5 points and she leads the conference with 26 aces (0.50/set), eight more than the next-highest player. Her .297 hitting percentage is third on the team, only trailing Bruna Evangelista (.362) and Leah Lawrence (.348).
This is Rivers' first weekly honor of the 2014 season and her fourth overall, having won it three times in 2013. This is the first weekly honor for any Crimson Tide player this season.
With four wins last week, Alabama has stretched its winning streak to seven-straight matches, including a perfect 4-0 record at home. It is the longest winning streak at Alabama since 2005. With a 12-2 overall record, the Crimson Tide rank second in the SEC heading into conference play this week.
Kentucky's Jackie Napper was named the Defensive Player of the Week while Ole Miss' Lexi Thompson was named the Freshman of the Week.
This week, Alabama opens conference play on the road against Georgia (8-4) on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. The Tide then return home to host the LSU Tigers (5-4) on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. CT in Foster Auditorium.
