SEC recognizes Norton again

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - For the second time in three weeks, Razorback outside hitter Jasmine Norton has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week as announced Monday by the league office. Norton recorded a pair of double-double performances as the University of Arkansas volleyball team earned a split on the road this past weekend at Georgia and Auburn.
 
"It's certainly exciting to see Jasmine win this award during SEC play on the road where things are even tougher," head coach Robert Pulliza said. "She showed great poise throughout the weekend and it certainly showed up in her numbers against Georgia and Auburn. We're definitely proud to have her wearing a Razorback jersey."
 
Against Georgia, Norton led all players with 10 kills and 12 digs, while hitting .318 and totaling three blocks in the straight-set victory. The win over the Bulldogs snapped a three-match skid for Arkansas and pushed the team over its win total from last season.
 
In the weekend finale, a five-set thriller against Auburn, Norton tallied a match-high 20 kills and completed her second double-double in as many matches with 11 digs. She closed out the first and second sets with an ace and kill, respectively, and hit .444 with six kills in the decisive fifth set. It is the third match this season where Norton has turned in at least 20 kills. The double-double is her fourth of the season.
 
For the week, the Rowlett, Texas, native averaged 4.19 points per set, 3.75 kills per set and 2.88 digs per set. With her weekend outings, Norton has posted 10 or more kills on 10 occasions, and has led the Razorbacks in kills 12 times.
 
During the season, Norton is third in conference-only matches with 3.65 kills per set, up from her overall season output of 3.47. She has totaled 205 kills this season. Norton also leads Arkansas with 19 service aces, and is sixth in the SEC with 0.32 aces per set. Proving her defensive worth, she is second on the team with 102 digs.
 
This is the third recognition for a Razorback freshman this season. Amanda Anderson earned the honor the week of Sept. 7, and Norton picked up her first award the week of Sept. 21. She joins Christina Lawrence (in 2005) as the only players in program history to be named Freshman of the Week twice.
 
Arkansas returns to action Oct. 9 for its first of three consecutive home matches. The Razorbacks will host Alabama and Mississippi State at Barnhill Arena this weekend before a mid-week matchup with Ole Miss. Log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com for more details.