PacWest Conference Weekly Awards (Sept. 24)

IRVINE, Calif. – After breaking out both offensively and defensively in a pair of matches this past weekend, Academy of Art volleyball middle blocker Jillian Wheaton has been named PacWest Freshman of the Week. The award is based on matches between Sept. 17-23.

In a grueling five-set contest at Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 21, Wheaton delivered career-highs in both kills (17) and blocks (8), registering nine kills in the first two sets as the Urban Knights took a 2-0 lead in the match. She would post a pair of block solos not only in that matchup, but once again the following afternoon in the four-set pairing with Fresno Pacific on Sept. 22. Versus the Sunbirds, she added 11 more kills and seven blocks, figuring prominently in ART U's second set victory which saw her contribute three block assists.

After hitting .378 and .321 in the two matches last week, Wheaton now boasts a .304 hitting percentage which is highest in the PacWest Conference among freshman and has her ranked eighth overall.

This is the first PacWest weekly award for Wheaton in her career.