Sept. 13, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - A&M freshman setter Allie Sawatzky has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for matches played Sept. 6-12, the conference office announced today.
The 6-2 lefty from St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada (Lord Selkirk) averaged 11.0 assists to pace all Big 12 newcomers in that category and rank third overall. She guided the Aggies to three consecutive sweeps against Jacksonville State, Denver and Gonzaga as A&M went a perfect 3-0 at the Pioneer Classic in Denver over the weekend and improved to 6-4 overall.
Sawatzky, who has started every match for the Aggies this season, registered a career-high five kills and no errors in 10 attempts against Gonzaga, and she also produced 12 digs, tying a team high against the Bulldogs. In addition, Sawatzky dished out 36 assists against Gonzaga, the most by an A&M player in a three-set match this season.
Overall, Sawatzky contributed 2.33 digs and 0.56 blocks per set to aid in the A&M defensive effort throughout the tournament.
Sawatzky receives the conference honor for the first time in her career, and she is the first Aggie volleyball player to garner the league weekly honor this season.
Sawatzky and the Aggies open Big 12 play Thursday, hosting No. 8 Texas at Reed Arena. Match time of in the first edition of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown is 6:30 p.m. It also will be Fish Camp Night at Reed, and anyone wearing a Fish Camp T-shirt will be admitted free.
Tickets to A&M home matches are $9 for reserved seating; $7 for adult general admission; and $4 for youth general admission. Children under 2 are admitted free in general admission sections. Single match and season tickets can be purchased at the Reed Arena entrance, online at AggieAthletics.com, or by calling 888-99-AGGIE. Also group rates are available by contacting the ticket office in advance.