Albers Joins List, KU’s Seventh Big 12 Player of the Week

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas’ break from weekly Big 12 honors was a short one as junior outside hitter Chelsea Albers earned Defensive Player of the Week recognition on Monday.  
 
Sitting in second place in the Big 12 standings, Kansas (16-4, 6-1) has seen at least one player earn one of the league’s weekly accolades in all but one of the last seven weeks. Albers becomes the seventh Jayhawk to be recognized this season, bringing the KU total to nine this year. The award is a first for Albers.
 
“You think about Chelsea’s attack, but she’s doing all of these other things for us, as well,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “She has a physical presence at the net. As far as a right-side player, she is one of the most physical that the league has. For her to not only to have that type of presence physically, but also be able to dig balls – that’s a unique combo for a player to have.”
 
Typically known for her offensive prowess on the outside, the 6-1 pin player continues to show her strength on defense. Already in the Big 12’s top-10 for both blocks and points per set, Albers tied for the Big 12 lead this week with 1.71 blocks per set. The Nebraska native finished second only to senior libero Brianne Riley for the team lead with 3.14 digs per set on the week.
 
At Texas Tech, Albers finished just two kills shy of a double-double with eight kills and 12 digs. Adding to it, she led the team with six blocks and added an ace. She put together another solid defensive stand at West Virginia – this time just one kill short of a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Once again, Albers set the tone with six blocks.
 
In 2013, Albers is quickly approaching the 200-kill mark, sitting at 194 for the season with a 2.85 kills per set average and a .294 hitting efficiency, while her 3.59 points per set ranks 10th in the Big 12. Defensively, Albers is one of three Jayhawks on the Big 12’s top-10 list with 1.07 blocks per set. In conference play, Albers is second on the team to Riley with a 2.46 dig average.
 
UP NEXT
Albers and the Jayhawks will play host to the Iowa State Cyclones on Wednesday. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m., inside the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
 
2013 Kansas Big 12 Players of the Week
Sept. 9 – Caroline Jarmoc (Defensive)
Sept. 16 – Brianne Riley (Defensive)
Sept. 23 – Erin McNorton (Offensive); Tayler Soucie (Rookie)
Sept. 30 – Tiana Dockery (Offensive); Caroline Jarmoc (Defensive)
Oct. 7 – Sara McClinton (Offensive); Tayler Soucie (Defensive)
Oct. 21 – Chelsea Albers (Defensive)
 
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