AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: August 29 – September 1, 2025
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alayna Lopez, F, So., Howard Payne
Howard Payne sophomore forward Alayna Lopez (Midlothian, Texas) scored three goals, and had an assist, as the Yellow Jackets went 2-0 on the weekend. Alayna played 150 minutes in the two games, totaling 10 shots with six shots on goal.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Malyn Martinson, D, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor senior defender Malyn Martinson (Cypress, Texas) played two full 90-minute contests, allowing opponents just 10 total shots on the week. She and the Cru defense gave up just one goal in a rain-filled contest on Sunday. Martinson and UMHB allowed only six shots on frame in opening weekend.
  OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
Offensive 
East Texas Baptist senior midfielder/defender Mallory Duncan (Round Rock, Texas) helped ETBU to the 2-2 tie vs. Linfield in the final match in California at UC Santa Cruz. She scored the first goal of the match in the 19th minute for a 1-0 lead.
 
Mary Hardin-Baylor freshman midfielder Gracie Ruthven (Austin, Texas) scored her first collegiate goal in the go-ahead Sunday against Puget Sound. She totaled six shots on the weekend, putting five on frame.
 
Hardin-Simmons junior midfielder Aras King (Lubbock, Texas) had a hand in two Cowgirl scores in the 7-1 win over the University of Dallas in the season opener Friday night. She assisted on the first goal of the game and scored the second goal against the Crusaders, which was the game-winning goal in the 7-1 victory.

Defensive
East Texas Baptist senior goalkeeper Cadence Tischler (The Colony, Texas) put together a strong performance in goal with 10 saves over the weekend in California as ETBU earned a tie with Linfield. She had five saves in each contest, facing 25 shots. In the loss to #11 Chicago, she saw 17 shots with five saves in 11 shots on goal. Against Linfield, she had five saves, seeing eight shots with six shots on goal.
 
Howard Payne junior goalkeeper Landry Combs (Midlothian, Texas) played 107 minutes across 2 games as the Yellow Jackets went 2-0. Landry led a defense that allowed only 7 shots on the weekend. She had 0 goals against, and 2 saves while on the field.
 
Hardin-Simmons sophomore defender Riley Surratt (San Antonio, Texas) was a big part of the Cowgirl defense in the first game of the season that held the University of Dallas to just five total shots in the game and only two shots on goal in the 7-1 win Friday night. Surratt scored a goal to help the Cowgirls on offense as well last week.