NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference named University of Maryland Eastern Shore libero Valeria Matias MEAC Defensive Player of the Week award on Monday, Sept. 22. 

In three matches at the Charlotte Invitational, Matias registered 55 digs (5.0 per set).

The senior from Ponce, Puerto Rico tied her career-high with 26 digs in a five-set victory over Ohio. She followed that up with eight digs against Furman to eclipse 200 digs this season. Matias concluded the invitational with 21 digs against Charlotte, earning her fifth match with 20 or more digs.

Going into conference play, Matias is second in the MEAC with both 217 digs and 4.43 digs per set. In addition, she sits just three digs shy of 1,000 career digs.

When asked to describe what the award meant to her in one word, Matias mentioned "resilience." 

The honor marks Matias' first MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Award. Setter Jayda Hutchins, who was named MEAC Rookie of the Week, and Matias became the first Hawks in the Vanessa Faircloth era to win weekly awards from the MEAC in the same week.

For the full list of MEAC women's volleyball weekly award winners:  Weekly Volleyball Honors
 

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