Jessica Lucas is The Towel Rack’s Volleyball Player of the Year
We have our first upset in naming a player of the year, but if you really look at it and dig deep, it isn’t that much of an upset at all.
We have our first upset in naming a player of the year, but if you really look at it and dig deep, it isn’t that much of an upset at all.
It’s with great pleasure I announce the 2017 Volleyball Player of the Year is…
JESSICA LUCAS!
Lucas needs no introduction — she’s an all-world setter who has, unfortunately, seen her time on the Hill come to a close following a volleyball season for the ages for both her and the Lady Toppers as a whole.
Lucas notched 1,323 assists this year, which was second-best in Conference USA, and dished out 11.03 assists per set.
She also got it done defensively, showing she can do a bit of everything, recording 271 digs and even scoring 158 times, while committing just 29 errors.
All told, Lucas leaves the Hill dishing out 5,339 helpers, a school record, and was the cog the lethal Lady Topper offense ran through time and time again.
Much like a pitcher can’t throw a perfect game without the catcher calling a good game, the Lady Tops wouldn’t have been what they were the last four years without her.
Congrats to Jessica!
Here’s what some of The Towel Rack writing staff had to say about Lucas in the voting process:
“Lucas did it all for the Lady Tops. She has the all-time assists record in WKU history, and is also ninth in blocks. She was named a First Team All-American for the Senior CLASS Award, which honors on-court play as well as community service and character, and was an honorable mention All-American for her on-court performance, as well.”
— Matt McCay
“She’s been by far one of the best volleyball players has had in recent years and has been a cornerstone to WKU’s success and helped them win 4 straight CUSA titles. “
— Jared Rosdeutscher
Honorable Mention: Alyssa Cavanaugh
The player I’m sure you all thought would have taken home the Volleyball Player of the Year honor, Cavanaugh is another name the Lady Topper program is going to miss dearly.
Cavanaugh led the Lady Tops, and Conference, in kills (489) and kills per set (4.08) in her four years, and was the offensive weapon every team not just in the conference, but in the country, wishes they had at their disposal.
“She was the C-USA player of the year, enough said.”
— Ross Shircliffe
“On paper, Alyssa Cavanaugh is the easy choice for the volleyball player of the year and it is definitely well deserved.”
- Sam Gormley