Newberry’s Sales, Blakely Named Volleyball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. ­- Newberry College senior outside hitter Priscila Sales (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) is this week's South Atlantic Conference volleyball Player of the Week. Newberry College sophomore setter Brianna Blakely (Houston, Texas) is the SAC volleyball Specialist of the Week.

A transfer from Arkansas-Fort Smith, Sales hit .376 as she led Newberry to a 3-0 record on the week. The scarlet-and-gray registered wins over Southern Wesleyan University, Carson-Newman College and Lincoln Memorial University. Sales had three double-doubles in three matches last week.

For the week, Sales recorded 70 kills, 11 aces, 39 digs and two blocks. She averaged 5.83 kills per set, 0.92 aces per set and 3.25 digs per set. On Tuesday at SWU, she hit .279 with 19 kills and 16 digs. Sales also recorded three service aces and a block assist against the Warriors.

Priscila Sales

Brianna Blakely

On Friday against Carson-Newman, she established a Newberry College record for kills in a match with 27 kills. Sales' achievement is even more remarkable considering the fact the match went only four sets. The previous record of 26 kills in a match was set by Sales in a five-set match at Brevard last season. The previous school record for kills in a four-set match was only 20. Sales had a .346 hitting percentage with 12 digs, four service aces and a solo block against the C-N Eagles.

On Saturday against Lincoln Memorial, Sales once again approached a Newberry record. She amassed 24 kills in a four-set match with a .526 hitting percentage. Sales also recorded 11 digs and four service aces.

Blakely helped Sales and the scarlet-and-gray hitters post three victories in three tries. Blakely recorded two double-doubles in the process.

For the week, Blakely posted 139 assists (11.58 assists per set). In addition, the Pasadena Dobie High School product had 0.33 aces per set, 1.92 digs per set and 0.42 blocks per set. On Tuesday at SWU, Blakely recorded 44 assists with a .361 setting percentage. She also recorded two kills, three service aces, 10 digs and three block assists.

Blakely stepped up her game in league play. On Friday against Carson-Newman, she recorded 50 assists with a .439 setting percentage. As a result, Newberry hit .230 on the evening. She also recorded 12 digs and one solo block.

On Saturday against LMU, Blakley recorded 45 assists with a .398 setting percentage. Thanks to her precise sets, Newberry hit a week-best .252 as a team. Blakely also recorded four kills, one dig, one service ace and one block assist.

Sales is a three-time SAC Player of the Week honoree. She earned the special distinction once last year. In addition, Sales was also honored on Sept. 8, 2008. Blakely receives SAC Specialist of the Week laurels for the first time in her career.

The SAC Volleyball Players of the Week are determined by a vote of the sports information directors of the league.