VB: Pledger Earns BAA, NWC Athlete of Week Awards for Oct. 5-11

NEWBERG, Ore. - For the second time this season, Eliza Pledger has been named Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week and Northwest Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week, capturing the awards for Oct. 5-11.

In a 3-2 win over Willamette on Oct. 9, the sophomore middle blocker from Wilsonville, Ore., had 10 kills and no errors in 19 attempts for a .526 hitting percentage, with three block assists.  In a 3-1 win at 22nd-ranked Puget Sound on Oct. 10, she led the Bruins with 13 kills while making five errors in 26 attempts for a .308 percentage, with one solo block and two block assists.  For the week, she had 23 kills (2.56 kpg) and five errors in 45 attacks (.400), with six blocks (one solo, five assists) as the Bruuns stretched their winning streak to eight in a row.

Pledger ranks first in the conference in blocks (1.30 bpg) and hitting percentage (.306)  In the latest available NCAA stats, she ranked fifth in the nation in blocks while leading the Bruins to the 32nd spot nationally in team blocks.  She is the second volleyball player to be receive both BAA and NWC honors this season, along with Lyndsay Hovee (Sept. 28-Oct. 4), and the first two win the honors twice (also Sept. 7-13).

The Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program.  For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website.

2009-10 Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week

Oct. 5-11 --- Eliza Pledger (Volleyball)

Sept. 28-Oct. 4 --- Lyndsay Hovee (Volleyball)

Sept. 21-27 --- Brianna Nap (Golf)

Sept. 14-20 --- Brianna Nap (Golf)

Sept. 7-13 --- Eliza Pledger (Volleyball)

Aug. 29-Sept. 6 --- Jenny McKinsey (Soccer)