Arkansas outside hitter Jill Gillen was named SEC Player of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week after leading her team to two five-set victories. She recorded 24 kills against Ole Miss and 26 against Florida, both season-highs. Gillen’s performance helped Arkansas extend its win total to 24 this season, its highest since 2003. This is Gillen’s first weekly honor this season and the seventh of her career. She is currently ranked second in the SEC with 4.22 kills per set and tied for first with 0.44 aces per set.
Arkansas State running back Ja’Quez Cross earned both offensive and special teams player of the week honors in the Sun Belt Conference for his outstanding performance in a 77-31 victory over Texas State. Cross accounted for 320 all-purpose yards, the most in a game between two league foes since 2017. He finished with 139 yards and 3 touchdowns on 13 carries and caught 2 passes for 15 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for 166 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown return at the end of the third quarter.
Guard Rylie Marshall of Harding University was named the Great American Conference’s Player of the Week, while forward Sage Hawley was named the conference’s women’s co-Player of the Week. Marshall set career highs with 17 points and four steals in Harding’s overtime victory over the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Hawley led Harding to two 20-point home wins, scoring 25 points and adding 6 rebounds, 5 blocked shots, and 4 assists in a victory over Cameron (Okla.) and following it up with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over Christian Brothers.