Santos named week's top defender

FAYETTEVILLE – Raymariely Santos, member of the University of Arkansas volleyball team, was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office. The honor is the second consecutive weekly award for Santos who last week was named the conference’s top freshman. This also marks the first Defensive Player of the Week for the Razorbacks since the 2007 season.

Santos tallied a career-best, and match-high, 22 digs in Arkansas’ four-set win over Ole Miss, good for an average of 5.50 digs per set. Her dig total is the fifth highest by an SEC player in a four-set match this season. Santos bettered her previous career mark of 13 digs, set Sept. 13 in a home match against Auburn.

The Ponce, Puerto Rico, native also posted three total blocks against the Rebels. With 34 assists in the match, Santos completed her third double-double performance of the season. Offensively, the freshman setter tied her career high with three kills, including the final putaway on match point to extend Arkansas’ winning streak to four. With the win, the Razorbacks also equaled their overall (13) and conference (7) wins totals from last season.

Santos’ 22 digs paced the team’s defensive output as Arkansas recorded 78 digs against Ole Miss, its highest total of the SEC season and tied for the third most by a conference team in a four-set match this season. This is the eighth Defensive Player of the Week honor for the Arkansas volleyball program spread among five players. Santos joins Sara Kincaid (2003), Karla Crose (2004, 2005), Amy Allison (2005) and Ashley Miller (2006, 2007).

Last week, Santos was the SEC Freshman of the Week (Nov. 1) following her efforts against Alabama and Mississippi State. Next up, the Razorbacks return to the court for a pair of road matches at Kentucky and No. 21 Tennessee. Sunday’ match against the Lady Vols will be televised by CSS with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. For more information, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.