Helm named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – For her performance last week against Tulsa and at the adidas/Michigan Challenge, junior libero Emily Helm was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced Tuesday by the league office. She averaged 4.29 digs per set during the week’s four matches and posted a pair of 20-dig efforts.

“(Emily) is a great competitor,” head coach Robert Pulliza said. “She plays with a chip on her shoulder every day, in terms of competition, and she’s a great teammate. By combining those things, it allows her to be successful and allows the team to have success, as well. I’m really proud of her. I definitely believed that she deserved the award but it’s also nice when others recognize our players and their accomplishments.”

Helm paced Arkansas’ defense behind the block that helped hold all four opponents below its season hitting percentage. As a primary passer, she also helped set up the Razorback offense that posted a .293 hitting percentage during the week. Helm opened the week with a match-high 22 digs in a straight-set win over Tulsa. In Arkansas’ match against No. 22 Michigan, she had season highs in digs with 24 and assists with six.

The Razorbacks return to action Tuesday evening for a midweek matchup with Oklahoma in Fayetteville. First serve of the match with the Sooners is set for 7 p.m. (CT) at Barnhill Arena. General admission tickets will be sold for $1 against Oklahoma. Fans 17 years and under get in free. University of Arkansas students attending volleyball matches this season are asked to use the street-level entrance on Stadium Drive to enter Barnhill Arena.

For Arkansas-Oklahoma match coverage, including interactive blog, live stats and video stream, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com. The match will also be broadcast live on KXUA 88.3 FM in Fayetteville. Fans can keep up with Razorback volleyball with its sport-specific RazorbackVB Twitter and Facebook pages.