Salisbury's Downes honored as AVCA Division III National Player of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The No. 21 Salisbury University volleyball team has reached another first in program history as junior outside hitter Rachel Downes is the first-ever Sea Gull to earn the national player of the week award. Downes was named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III National Player of the Week for the week of October 28.
Downes most recently was named the Capital Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season. She led the Sea Gulls to four more victories last weekend as Salisbury won the Seahawk Invitational. Salisbury has won a nation best 32 consecutive matches. The win streak now ranks 10th all-time in NCAA Division III volleyball history. The all-time consecutive matches won record of 60 wins is held by Central (Iowa) College.
The Salisbury, Md., native provided double-doubles in three straight matches to begin the Seahawk Invitational. Downes notched 13 kills and 17 digs on Friday against St. Mary's. In Friday night's victory over Neumann, Downes had 11 kills and 17 digs. She also had a big game on Saturday against Marietta as she tallied 13 kills and 13 digs. For the week, Downes hit .311, while averaging 3.50 kills and 3.86 digs per set.
This is the first-time this season a player from the Mid-Atlantic region has earned the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III National Player of the Week award.
The maroon and gold will conclude the regular-season with a final Capital Athletic Conference match on the road against Gallaudet University on Wednesday, October 29, at 7 p.m.
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