McClinton’s Big Night Earns Big 12 Offensive Honors
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior outside hitter Sara McClinton was determined to settle the score in the final Sunflower Showdown of her career. What resulted was worthy of Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday afternoon.
A week ago, Kansas became the first school in league history to sweep all three of the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week awards twice in the same season. This week, McClinton was the lone Jayhawk to earn a weekly honor – but the sixth different KU representative of the season, accounting for a total of nine awards. Last season, the Jayhawks broke the Big 12 record with seven total players being recognized, while their 11 total awards in 2013 tied for fifth-most in conference history.
“Individual awards reflect team success,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “We had a good week last week and Sara was a big part of that. She was very effective in Manhattan and I know it meant a lot to her to finish her career against K-State on a good note. But it means even more to her, to all of us, to keep climbing in the standings.”
McClinton, a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, was unstoppable last Wednesday inside Kansas State’s Ahearn Fieldhouse. She tied her season-high with 18 kills and no errors to lead Kansas to it’s fourth-ever sweep against the Wildcats in Manhattan. The win not only helped KU to a tie for third place in the Big 12 standings, it also ensured McClinton’s senior class a winning career record against their in-state rival (5-3).
For the week, the Omaha native led the Big 12 with an impressive 6.0 kills per set. For her career, McClinton is inching toward sixth place on KU’s all-time kills list. McClinton now has 1,208 during her time in Lawrence, making her closer to Amanda Reves’ 1,264 kills (1996-99). McClinton is one of two players in the Big 12 with 1,000 career kills (Haley Eckerman, Texas).
UP NEXT
Kansas will hit the court at home on Nov. 19 against Iowa State. First serve from the Horejsi Family Athletics Center is set for 6:30 p.m. The match will be televised on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
2014 Kansas Big 12 Players of the Week
Sept. 22 – Madison Rigdon (Offensive)
Oct. 13 – Ainise Havili (Rookie)
Oct. 20 –Tayler Soucie (Offensive)
Oct. 20 – Cassie Wait (Defensive)
Oct. 20 – Ainise Havili (Rookie)
Nov. 10 – Tiana Dockery (Offensive)
Nov. 10 – Cassie Wait (Defensive)
Nov. 10 – Ainise Havili (Rookie)
Nov. 17 – Sara McClinton (Offensive)
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