MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Driving the Wildcats to their sixth consecutive sweep at home, Mackenzie Morris was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week while Aniya Clinton was tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Morris is the first player this season to win Defensive Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks as she earned her fifth career weekly defensive honor, which ties for the sixth most all-time.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Morris led a defense that held Texas Tech to a .121 hitting percentage as the Cats starting libero handed in her 29th career 20-dig match. The 2022 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year totaled league-high 39 digs (6.50 per set) in week 13 action, bringing her career total to 1,716 which is just 39 away from tying second all-time in school history.
The Big 12 leader in digs per set (4.85) and total digs (451), is just the third player in school history to reach the 1,700-dig milestone while her career digs average of 4.34 is good for second all-time. Additionally, Morris turned in a league-high four service aces (0.67 per set) on her way to becoming the 22nd player in program history to reach 100 career aces.
Clinton earned her second Rookie of the Week honor this season after totaling 27 kills for a .297 hitting efficiency against the Red Raiders. She averaged 4.50 kills a set – good for sixth in the league – to go along with three blocks and nine digs.
The Midland, Texas native was seventh in the Big 12 with 4.83 points per set, while she totaled 29 on the weekend. Clinton has reached double figure kills in seven of the Cats’ last eight matches, totaling 13 overall this season.
K-State (16-10, 10-7 Big 12) faces its seventh Top 25 opponent of the year Saturday, as the Wildcats finish the regular season at No. 22 Houston (17-8, 10-6 Big 12) at Fertitta Center. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Following the match with the Cougars, the Wildcats will await their postseason fate with the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show on Sunday, November 26 at 5 p.m. CT now on ESPN. The first round of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship begins Thursday, November 30 on campus sites.
