FRISCO, Texas — Southeastern's Kyra McKelvey, UTRGV's Celianiz Cabranes and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Virginia Van Der Werff have earned this season's first Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Volleyball Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced Monday. 

Offensive Player of the Week: Kyra McKelvey, Southeastern – Jr. – OPP – Navarre, Fla.
McKelvey came off the bench in all three matches to lead the Lady Lions to a 3-0 weekend as SLU knocked off ULM, Louisiana Tech, & Jackson State at the Southeastern Showdown. Averaged 3.64 kills per set on a .484 attack percentage while scoring 4.05 points per set over the weekend. Had double-digit kills in all three matches starting with 12 kills while accumulating an error-less .750 attack percentage against the Warhawks. Had 13 kills and a .526 attack percentage against the Bulldogs. Wrapped up the weekend with 15 kills and a .310 attack percentage in the five-set win over JSU, including a kill which put the Lady Lions onto set point in the fourth set after SLU had already fended off three match points by the Tigers. Added eight total blocks and four digs during the weekend as well.

Honorable Mention: Martina Franco, UTRGV

Defensive Player of the Week: Celianiz Cabranes, UTRGV – Jr. – Libero – Bayamon, Puerto Rico?
Celianiz Cabranes totaled 71 digs in three matches for an impressive 5.92 digs/set average and recorded 28 digs twice - first in the season opener against Gonzaga and then in a steady defensive effort to lift UTRGV to its first win of the season over Long Island. She then added 15 digs against GCU. 

Setter of the Week: Virginia Van Der Werff, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – So. – S
Virginia got the start at setter in every match over opening weekend and turned in an all-around performance, tallying a total of 99 assists for a 9.00/set average. She ran the Islanders' offense to a .237 hitting efficiency off 135 kills, while additionally notching 14 kills and 18 digs herself with a team-high five service aces.

2024 Southland Conference Volleyball Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Setter
Sept. 1	Kyra McKelvey, Southeastern	Celianiz Cabranes, UTRGV	Virginia Van Der Werff, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school's sports information director. Voting for one's own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.