By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Elena Vasquez (Fr., LIB, Kingston, WA/North Kitsap HS) of Willamette University has been named Northwest Conference Volleyball Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after helping the Bearcats pick up two conference wins this past weekend. Willamette downed Linfield College, 3-1, on Friday, Oct. 13, and then swept a road match at Pacific University, 3-0, on Saturday, Oct. 14. It was the second time this season that Vasquez was chosen for the NWC Defensive Student-Athlete honor.

Vasquez averaged a solid 7.00 digs per set in Willamette's two matches. She recorded 21 digs against Linfield and then earned a career-high 28 digs in just three sets against Pacific.

The previous career-high for Vasquez was 27 digs against University of Puget Sound on Sept. 29. One day later, she registered 25 digs against Pacific Lutheran University. She averaged an impressive 7.43 digs per set in those matches and received NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week recognition for the first time.

Vasquez leads Willamette with 247 digs on the season. She has provided the Bearcats with 20 or more digs six times in the past nine matches, including five of the last six. She has recorded at least nine digs in 15 of 18 matches this fall, with at least 10 digs in 10 matches.

Willamette is 7-=211 on the season and 4-6 in the NWC. The Bearcats will take on Whitman College at Cone Field House on Friday, Oct. 20. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).