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The University of Mississippi Athletics
League-Leader Purcell Crowned SEC Defensive Player of the Week
9/30/2019 | Volleyball
Senior libero Nicole Purcell wins Ole Miss’ fifth weekly honor of the season
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After a career-high performance in the Rebels' thrilling league opener Friday over (RV) Tennessee, Ole Miss Volleyball's Nicole Purcell has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday early afternoon.
Purcell tallied 27 digs and was flawless on serve-receive, not recording a single reception error in 26 attempts across five sets Friday, where she averaged nearly six digs a set at 5.40. She nearly registered her first collegiate double-double, falling two assists shy with eight.
The senior and Leawood, Kansas, product has turned in six matches this season with 20 digs or more, topping the league in total digs and digs per set at 220 and 4.68, respectively. She ranks in the Top 50 in the country in both statistics.
It is the first weekly honor of her career as she becomes the fourth Rebel to be honored this season.
Entering the 2019 campaign, the Ole Miss roster supported just two players with weekly honors. Since Week 2, Ole Miss has tallied five plaudits, including two in the same week on back-to-back occasions, a program first.
The last Rebel to be honored defensively was current sophomore Aubrey Sultemeier earlier this season, and prior to that, senior Nayo Warnell in 2017. Earlier this season, Warnell was crowned SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
UP NEXT
Purcell and the Rebels will travel just a short ways south, taking on in-state rivals Mississippi State Friday, Oct. 5.
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Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, @olemissvb on Instagram. You can also follow head coach Steven McRoberts on Twitter @CoachMcRoberts.
Purcell tallied 27 digs and was flawless on serve-receive, not recording a single reception error in 26 attempts across five sets Friday, where she averaged nearly six digs a set at 5.40. She nearly registered her first collegiate double-double, falling two assists shy with eight.
The senior and Leawood, Kansas, product has turned in six matches this season with 20 digs or more, topping the league in total digs and digs per set at 220 and 4.68, respectively. She ranks in the Top 50 in the country in both statistics.
It is the first weekly honor of her career as she becomes the fourth Rebel to be honored this season.
Entering the 2019 campaign, the Ole Miss roster supported just two players with weekly honors. Since Week 2, Ole Miss has tallied five plaudits, including two in the same week on back-to-back occasions, a program first.
The last Rebel to be honored defensively was current sophomore Aubrey Sultemeier earlier this season, and prior to that, senior Nayo Warnell in 2017. Earlier this season, Warnell was crowned SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
UP NEXT
Purcell and the Rebels will travel just a short ways south, taking on in-state rivals Mississippi State Friday, Oct. 5.
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Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, @olemissvb on Instagram. You can also follow head coach Steven McRoberts on Twitter @CoachMcRoberts.
Players Mentioned
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