Kacia Brown Named CUSA Defensive Player of the Week

Redshirt senior middle blocker tallied 11 blocks as Aggies dominated FIU.

Source: NMSU Athletics
Article By: Matthew Knope
NMSU Photo By Jenni Hazlett: Courtesy

Conference USA revealed its Volleyball Players of the Week on Monday, with NM State’s Kacia Brown earning Oct. 21 Defensive Player of the Week honors. The redshirt junior led an outstanding defensive effort for the Aggies, as they tallied 20 blocks in just six sets, posting two of their seven best team block totals this season. Brown becomes the fourth Aggie to win a CUSA Player of the Week award in 2024.

A remarkable month-long stretch for Brown rolled on over the weekend as the Aggies easily handled FIU at home. The Waterloo, Iowa native was exceptional individually, tallying 11 blocks versus the Panthers (nine assists and two solo). The third-year Aggie added eight digs, four kills and two assists. Her 1.83 blocks per set easily led both sides across the weekend. The middle blocker’s two solo blocks on Friday increased her team-high mark to 10 on the campaign. Brown is now one of just two Aggies averaging at least 1.00 kills and 1.00 digs per set, and ranks second on the team with 0.79 blocks per set.

Over the course of the last 11 matches, the redshirt senior has put together one of the strongest stretches of her career. Since Sept. 21, Brown has 61 kills (6.78 per match), 36 blocks, eight solo blocks, 40 digs (1.03 per set), six aces and three assists. Over that span, she leads the team with 0.92 blocks per set and a .391 hitting percentage.

Brown becomes the fourth Aggie to win a CUSA Weekly Award in 2024. NM State also claimed two of the season’s first three Offensive Player of the Week awards. Starr Williams picked up league recognition after the first week of the campaign, when she put up 30 kills on a staggering .560 hitting percentage versus two 2023 NCAA Tournament representatives. Yasso Aminfollowed suit with an exceptional Borderland Invitational, posting 37 kills on a .388 hitting percentage to win her first CUSA Weekly Award on Sept. 16.

Two weeks ago, Nellie Reese became the first Aggie to ever win a conference setter of the week award. The junior transfer tallied 57 assists in seven sets as the Aggies racked up two convincing wins over LA Tech. Brown now becomes the first Aggie to win CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, and just the second ever. Darian Markham won the award twice last season en route to being crowned 2023 CUSA Libero of the Year.

Brown and the Aggies will be back in action this weekend as they welcome Liberty for their second straight home series. The Crimson & White will host the Flames (11-9, 5-3 CUSA) for a crucial two-contest stint between a pair of the league’s top-four teams. The series commences on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6:00 PM. The finale will be held the next day, on Saturday at 1:00 PM MT.

Last season, Kacia Brown put up a monster performance in Liberty Arena. 17 kills, nine blocks, five service aces and seven digs from Brown were far too much for the home team as the Aggies won the series finale in four sets. All of this weekend’s action versus Liberty will be streamed live on EPSN+ and available to follow via nmstatestats.com.

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