MOBILE, Ala. – After posting a strong performance at this past weekend’s Jaguar Classic and earning her second all-tournament honors of the season, University of South Alabama senior volleyball player Juliana Almeida was named the Sun Belt Conference’s Co-Player of the Week on Monday as announced by the league office.

Along with Almeida, Middle Tennessee’s Izabela Kozon was named the other player of the week, while North Texas’ Sarah Willey took home top defensive honors.

With the recognition, Almeida becomes the first Jaguar to earn player of the week honors since the 2001 season, when Selena Gamble-Chidester did so on Sept. 24 of that season.  She is also only the fourth South Alabama volleyball player in the program’s history to receive the honor.  The Sun Belt Conference started honoring a player of the week during the 1995 season.

Over the weekend, Almeida was the offensive leader for South Alabama at the Jaguar Classic leading the team with 65 kills and 4.64 kills per set.  She also recorded 12 assists and dropped in six service aces in her four matches of play.  Against Alabama A&M on Friday, the San Jose Dos Campos, Brazil native posted a career-best 22 kills and became just the seventh Jaguar to eclipse the 900 kill mark for her career.  Against the Bulldogs, Almeida also finished with 16 digs to give her her 20th double-double of her career. 

She followed that performance up with 17 and 15 kill efforts against UNC-Asheville and Alabama State. Against the Hornets on Saturday, she posted a career-best .714 hitting percentage – the second highest ever by a player in the program’s history.  Almeida had 15 kills on 21 attacks, while not committing an attack error against Alabama State.

Almeida currently ranks second in the Sun Belt in kills (3.91 kps) and eighth in service aces with 23 on the year.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

SUN BELT CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK RECIPIENTS FROM SOUTH ALABAMA
1995 – Sept. 25 – Tonia Hatfield
1995 – Oct. 23 – Beverly Ferren
2001 – Sept. 24 – Selena Gamble-Chidester
2010 – Sept. 6 – Juliana Almeida