RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Jessica Dean has been named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday by the conference office.
Dean recorded 5.50 digs per set in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders, logging 44 digs in total. This is her third career weekly conference award and UCR's first of the season.
The San Mateo, Calif., native recorded a career-high 30 digs in Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over UC San Diego after going for 14 against Long Beach State on Thursday. Dean was the driver behind UCR's 81 total digs against the Tritons, the most in a Big West five-set match this season.
The senior's back row performance now has the Highlanders ranked third in Big West play with 14.95 digs per set. Dean herself ranks second in conference play with 4.77 digs per set, and 38th in Division I with a Big West-leading 4.55 digs per set overall.
UC Riverside (6-10, 2-4 Big West) returns to action this week with a pair of road matches at CSUN on Friday and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
