SMU's Acker Named Conference Offensive Player Of The Week

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Acker Named Conference Offensive Player Of The Week
Giordano named to weekly honor roll

Sept. 14, 2015

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU) – Avery Acker was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Mustangs to a 2-1 record at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational, including a victory over No. 18 San Diego, league officials announced Monday.

The senior setter entered the week ranked third in the country, averaging 11.96 assists per set. Acker earned all-tournament honors after recording 119 assists in 11 sets, averaging 10.82. She directed the Mustangs to a .213 attack percentage over the three matches, which included two against top-20 competition. Acker, a Poth, Texas, native, also had 31 digs, two kills and two aces during the tournament, and had double-doubles against UC Santa Barbara and UCLA.

SMU also defeated host UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the tournament, but fell to No. 17 UCLA in the championship match Saturday night. The Mustangs are the only team in the history of the American Athletic Conference to defeat an AVCA Top-25 opponent, and have beaten at least one in each of the last two seasons. This is the first weekly honor of the season for Acker, who was named Offensive Player of the Week twice last year.

Janelle Giordano was also named to the weekly honor roll. The middle blocker averaged 1.73 blocks per set at the tournament, and posted eight in the win over San Diego. The junior also reached double digit kills twice in three matches, scoring 11 against UCSB and 10 against San Diego.

The Mustangs return home to host their second tournament of the season Friday and Saturday. SMU plays Clemson in the opening round of the DoubleTree Invitational Friday at 1 p.m., and takes on rival TCU Friday at 7 p.m. The Mustangs battle UTSA Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the final match of the tournament.