Newsome Tabbed ACC Defensive Player Of The Week
Oct 5 | Volleyball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (SMU/ACC) - Junior middle blocker Natalia Newsome was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. Â
The honor is the first weekly recognition of her career. Newsome led the ACC and ranked fifth nationally last week in blocks per set at 2.17 per frame. Â Â
She tied a career-high with eight blocks in the Mustangs' sweep at Syracuse on Friday, including two solo rejections. It marked the second time in her career that Newsome logged 8+ blocks in a match. The junior followed that up with a five-block outing in the Mustangs' sweep at Boston College. Â Â
Newsome led SMU to 4.50 blocks per set as a unit, the most in the nation. The pressure at the net helped the Mustangs hold opponents to a .042 hitting percentage across the two matches, which ranked first in the ACC and fifth in the country last week. Â Â
On offense, Newsome still leads the nation in hitting percentage, swinging at .528 through 14 matches this season. Â Â
The Mustangs have now five ACC weekly honors this season and 23 since joining the league in 2024. Â Â
Newsome and the No. 6Â Mustangs next travel to Pittsburgh for a top-5 showdown with No. 2 Pitt on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT. Wednesday's clash with the Panthers will air on the ACC Network.Â
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