University of Tennessee Athletics
Nikki Fowler Doubles Up on Weekly Awards
November 09, 2009 | Volleyball
Nov. 9, 2009
By Cameron Harris, Assistant Media Relations Director
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time this season and fifth time in her career, University of Tennessee junior outside hitter Nikki Fowler has been named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. In addition, she edged the UT tennis tandem of Caitlin Whoriskey and Natalie Pluskota in a tight vote to take home Lady Volunteer Athlete of the Week laurels for the third time this year.
Fowler joins LSU's Brittnee Cooper as the only other player in the SEC to win the league's offensive player of the week honors twice during the 2009 campaign, having previously picked up the award on Sept. 28. Last season, Fowler led the conference by claiming the accolades on three different occasions.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Fowler was simply outstanding in all phases of the game this past weekend, leading the Lady Vols to sweeps over both Mississippi State and Alabama with her eighth and ninth consecutive double-doubles. The 6-2 outside hitter was the team's top offensive weapon, smashing out a squad-best 26 kills for an average of 4.33 per set, while hitting .302, which is 90 points above her season average, with just seven errors in 63 swings.
Fowler was also UT's best defensive player, scooping up a team-high 32 digs for an astounding average of 5.33 per set, in addition to collecting five blocks in just six sets. To top it off, she was Tennessee's best passer as well, handling all 42 serves that came her way. Against the Bulldogs on Friday, Fowler led all players with 10 kills and 16 digs, while hitting at a sizzling .364 clip with just two errors in 22 attacks.
Just two days later versus the Crimson Tide, she put forth another stellar performance, delivering a match-high 16 kills with 16 more digs, two blocks, a pair of assists and an ace. With her offensive output this weekend, Fowler increased her career total to 1,125 to move past former Lady Vol Sarah Blum into 13th all-time on UT's career kills chart.
For the season, Fowler leads the team in kills (328), kills per set (3.57), total attacks (928), points (392.5) and points per set (4.27). She also ranks second on the squad with 307 digs and 3.34 digs per set, third with 81 blocks and 0.88 blocks per set and is passing at a .960 rate with just 20 errors in 495 reception attempts.
Tennessee will close out the road portion of its schedule with contests at Auburn and Georgia this weekend. The Orange and White will first take on the Tigers at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 13 in Auburn, Ala., before making the trek to Athens, Ga., for a 2 p.m. showdown against the Bulldogs on Sunday, Nov. 15, which will be televised live on Comcast Sports Southeast.
