Banwarth, Werth Honored by Big 12

Lincoln ? Nebraska’s Kayla Banwarth and Hannah Werth were honored by the Big 12 Conference on Monday afternoon. Banwarth was chosen as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week, while Werth was tabbed as the league’s co-Rookie of the Week with Missouri’s Paola Ampudia.

Banwarth earned her first career accolade, as she averaged 6.71 digs, 0.86 assists and 0.29 service aces per set to help the Huskers to a 2-0 week. Banwarth, who has recorded 20-or-more digs seven times, totaled a match-high 22 digs in a sweep at No. 19 Baylor on Wednesday, adding five assists and helping limit Baylor to just .169 hitting on the night. On Saturday at Missouri, she collected a match-high 25 digs at Missouri while matching a season-high with two service aces, as Nebraska became the first team to win in Columbia this year, snapping the Tigers’ eight-match home win streak.

Werth was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this year, as she averaged 4.29 kills on .328 hitting and 3.86 digs per set in a pair of road wins. She her career high with 17 kills and added 15 digs, as Nebraska became the first team to win at Missouri this season with a 3-1 win on Oct. 17. Earlier in the week, she led NU with 13 kills on .379 hitting and adding12 digs, as she recorded her sixth double-double of the season.

The Huskers, who climbed to fifth in the AVCA Coaches Poll released Monday afternoon, will take on No. 14 Iowa State Wednesday night at the NU Coliseum. Wednesday’s match is also the annual Power of Pink match where fans are encouraged to wear Pink for cancer awareness.