SAN RAMON, Calif. -- Sonoma State University senior libero Kaitlyn Connolly has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4, it was announced by the conference office Tuesday morning. 

Connolly, from San Jose, Calif., was the backbone of SSU's stifling defensive effort in a perfect 3-0 week for the CCAA-leading Seawolves, which included two come-from-behind five-set victories over 20th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego on back-to-back nights.

She becomes the first libero/defensive specialist in the CCAA since 2011 to receive the conference's Player of the Week award.  In fact, the last libero/defensive specialist to receive the CCAA's weekly honor was former SSU volleyball student-athlete Taylor Krenwinkel, who owns the program's all-time digs, digs per set and reception percentage records.

Last week, Connolly recorded a career-high 25 digs and had two service aces in Friday's 3-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino, which was SSU's first home win over CSUSB since 1992, snapping a 17-match losing streak to the Coyotes in Rohnert Park.  One night later, she made 24 digs with one ace in Saturday's 3-2 win over UC San Diego.  For the week, which included last Tuesday's 3-0 win over Cal State San Marcos, Connolly tallied 64 digs at an average of 4.92 per set and was key in the Seawolves' effort to hold their opponents to just .198 on offense.  She also had a .972 reception percentage, erring just three times in 108 reception attempts.

For the season, Connolly is ninth in the CCAA with 4.18 digs per set, totaling 209 digs in 50 sets played, and is on pace to break SSU's single-season and career reception percentage records, sporting a .969 clip this season and a .961 for her career.

Sonoma State, which has sole possession of first place in the CCAA standings with a 6-1 record (10-3 overall) and is receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll, travels to Arcata tonight for a midweek conference showdown with Humboldt State (6-6, 4-4 CCAA).  First serve is set for 7:00 pm in Lumberjack Arena. 

2015 Women's Volleyball Player of the Week
Sept. 3-6:  Meagan Wright (UC San Diego)
Sept. 7-13:  Nicoletta Stork (Cal Poly Pomona)
Sept. 14-20:  Danielle Dahle (UC San Diego)
Sept. 21-27:  Alexandra Torline (Cal State San Bernardino)
Sept. 28-Oct. 4:  Kaitlyn Connolly (Sonoma State)