Hughes honored with first career Big Sky Player of the Week

By ZACH BOND
UNCBears.com

OGDEN, Utah -- Northern Colorado senior setter Marissa Hughes (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was named the Big Sky's Co-Player of the Week on Monday -- for matches played between Aug. 20-26 -- after helping her Bears to the Belmont Invitational title over the weekend.

It is Hughes' first-career Big Sky Player of the Week award. Last season, the Bears (3-0) had two student-athletes awarded the honor.

Northern Arizona senior Kelli Dallmann joined Hughes as the conference's other Co-Player of the Week.

Behind Hughes' play, the Bears were able to get off to their first 3-0 start since 2009 with big wins against Belmont, Alabama A&M and Big 12 opponent TCU. For her efforts, Hughes was named the tournament's MVP.

Over the weekend, the senior setter racked up 102 total assists, 15 digs, six aces and three kills.

Her best match of the weekend came in the season-opening 3-1 win over TCU when she racked up 42 assists. In that match, she also notched five digs, two service aces and a kill.

Hughes displayed her defensive prowess, too, with a season-high eight digs in the tournament-final against Alabama A&M. She currently sits in fourth in the Big Sky in total assists and third in service aces (6).

Others Nominated: Breanne Van Every, Idaho State; Brooke Bray, Montana; Sarah Horton, Montana State; Ronni Munkeby, North Dakota; Jaklyn Wheeler, Portland State; Jessie Genger, Sacramento State and Rebecca Fuchs, Weber State