Sept. 15, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina junior outside hitter Ivana Kujundzic received Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after her outstanding play in the Carolina Challenge, the league office announced today. She was also selected as the AgSouth Athlete of the Week for the Gamecock athletic department.

Kujundzic averaged 4.36 kills and 3.09 digs per set in the matches against Winthrop and 2007 NCAA Tournament teams College of Charleston and Clemson. The Subotica, Serbia, native hit .355 on the weekend and averaged 0.45 blocks per set. She was instrumental in the Gamecocks’ five-set victory over the archrival Tigers, making 22 kills and 15 digs as well as two aces and two blocks in the match. In the final frame, Kujundzic had six kills, four of which either kept the match alive on a Clemson set point or put South Carolina in position for the win. The junior leads the squad and ranks third in the SEC with a 3.62 kills-per-set average.

Kujundzic is the first Gamecock to win the offensive league award since the last of Shonda Cole’s three recognitions in 2006. Last season, Hannah Lawing picked up the Defensive Player of the Week accolade once, while Megan Laughlin was the league’s Freshman of the Week once.

Tennessee’s Chloe Goldman claimed the Defensive Player of the Week award, while Mississippi’s Regina Thomas won the SEC Freshman of the Week certificate.

The Carolina Gamecocks open SEC play on Friday night against 2007 SEC Western Division champ LSU at 7 p.m. in the Volleyball Competition Facility.