Nov. 24, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior libero Mikaela Christiaansen has been named the SEC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

Christiaansen earns the honor for the first time in her career after averaging 6.11 digs per set on the week to lead the Gamecocks to a pair of road wins at Tennessee and Georgia. In Carolina’s 3-2 win at Tennessee, she recorded her first career double-double with 22 digs and 10 assists. She closed out the weekend with a career-high 33 digs at Georgia, which is a school record for a four-set match and the most digs in an SEC match this season.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Christiaansen is leaving her mark in the Gamecock record book in her final season in Garnet and Black. Her career digs per set average of 4.01 currently ranks second all-time at South Carolina. She has recorded 512 digs on the season, which is the second most in a single season in school history in the rally scoring era.

Christiaansen and the Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday at Florida. First serve is set for 7 p.m. The match will air tape delayed on ESPNU at 10 p.m. and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.