Ashley Potts of WKU emerges as Defensive Player of the Year – Volleyball News
Western Kentucky’s Ashley Potts was named the Sun Belt Conference Defence Player of the Year to headline the 2011 All-Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Teams, as announced at the conference championship banquet in Miami on Wednesday, November 16.
Potts got hold of the honour on the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team with the help of 455 digs this season, averaging 4.33 matches this season. Potts recorded her season-high against Belmont and Arkansas-Little Rock when she contributed 25 digs. Moreover,
she also clipped 19 service aces and set a season-high record for her.
The Lady Hill Toppers of Western Kentucky participated in 31 matches in 2011, while Potts performed her duty as the libero for all matches. She was not only top defender of the team but also supported the WKU with spikes, bump-passes, assists, and service
aces. She recorded double-digit digs in 26 matches this season, while twelve of those matches were against SBC opponents.
The Louisville, Kentucky, native deserved to be nominated for this award on account of her mesmerizing performance. She became the fourth player in program history to earn Defensive Player of the Year. Previously, Tracy May of WKU clinched this honour in
2002.
She started her career at the Sacred Heart Academy in 2009 and worked out a great performance at the Kentucky State tournament in the first year. Afterwards, she earned the All-State Tournament and All-Region honours for two consecutive years. She was also
given the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year award during her prep career. Likewise, she seized JV Defensive Player of the Year, the 110% Award, and the Varsity Most Improved Award in 2009.
She joined the Hill Toppers in 2010 as a freshman and promptly made her presence felt by others. She made an immediate impact with her wonderful game tactics and managed to find a place among five Lady Toppers, who
participate in all 121 sets in 2010. Last season, she added 243 digs, 12 service aces and 45 assists. This year, she put up extra effort for improvement and clawed her way to the honourable spot. She expressed much delight for getting SBC Defence Player
of the Year award.
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