Bottles, Hilbun Named Southland Volleyball Players of the Week

Bottles led the Ladyjacks to its best start since 1992; Hilbun earns all-tournament honors

FRISCO, TEXAS (August 29, 2011) Stephen F. Austin senior MC Bottles and Texas State sophomore Ashlee Hilbun were named the Southland Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, to begin the 2011 season, the league announced Monday.

Offensive Player of the Week – MC Bottles, Stephen F. Austin

Bottles was key in leading the Ladyjacks to a perfect 4-0 mark over the weekend at the Georgia Southern Spring Hill Suites Invitational, guiding Stephen F. Austin to its first 4-0 start since 1992. The Rowlett, Texas, native hit better than .440 in the final three matches of the tournament and averaged 4.09 kills per set in those wins. The SFA middle blocker finished the weekend hitting a .336 clip and averaging 3.19 kills per set. Bottles hit .577 and notched 16 kills and three blocks in a four-set win over Jacksonville before backing that up with a 14-kill performance in a sweep of South Dakota State. In the final match of the tournament against Montana State, the senior hit .323 with 15 kills in the four-set victory.

Honorable Mention: Jessica Hays, Central Arkansas; Carli Kolbe, Sam Houston State; Logan Bourque, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Defensive Player of the Week – Ashlee Hilbun, Texas State

Hilbun made a huge impact for the Bobcats defensively at the net and in the back row while earning a spot on the all-tournament team at the Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The sophomore middle blocker totaled 23 blocks in three tournament matches for an average of 1.77 blocks per set and also contributed with 27 digs for an average of 2.08 digs per set. The Austin, Texas, native flirted with triple-doubles in each of the first two matches for Texas State, finishing with 13 digs, nine blocks and nine kills in the season-opener against Alabama State before posting nine kills, nine digs and eight blocks against Austin Peay.

Honorable Mention: Keelie Arneson, Northwestern State; Kim Black, Sam Houston State; Madison Hanlan, Stephen F. Austin

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.