WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Rosa Brey, a Whitman College sophomore from Bozeman, Mont., has been named Northwest Conference Volleyball Player of the Week.
Brey, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker, slammed 36 kills in two matches last weekend while hitting .438, powering Whitman to a pair of Northwest Conference victories. One of those wins was a three-game sweep of nationally ranked Linfield College. Brey, who had 18 kills against Linfield, also led Whitman in digs in that match with 12.
"Rosa is a just a special athlete," Whitman coach Dean Snider said after Saturday’s victory over Linfield. "There are times when she's the only athlete on the floor who can do the things she does."
Brey ranks among the conference leaders in three statistical categories. In NWC matches only, in fact, she leads the conference in blocks, averaging 1.08 per game. She collected nine blocks in last weekend’s two matches (seven games). She also ranks third in hitting percentage (.306) and is tied for sixth with teammate Leslie Compean in kills, averaging 3.62 per game in conference matches.
Brey is the second Whitman player to earn volleyball Player of the Week honors this fall. Kate Borsato, a senior setter, was honored in late September.
Last weekend’s victories evened Whitman’s record at 5-5 in the NWC and 9-9 overall. The Missionaries have lost four conference matches in five games, dropping the deciding fifth game in each case by no more than three points.
Whitman hits the road this weekend, playing Friday at George Fox and Saturday at Lewis & Clark. The Missionaries then return home for a string of three home matches.
Last fall in her first college season, Brey led the conference in blocks and earned All-NWC Honorable Mention recognition. She is serving as one of Whitman’s team captains this season.
Brey was one of three Missionaries named to the all-tournament team last month in a season-opening tournament hosted by the University of Puget Sound. She collected 20 kills in four matches while averaging 3.0 kills and 2.0 digs per game.
Brey is a graduate of Bozeman (Mont.) High School.