ROCK HILL, S.C. – Junior middle blocker Maddie Borch (Walnut, Creek, Calif.) was named the Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week and sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) was tabbed the Specialist of the Week the league announced Tuesday. Patton earned the honor two weeks ago on October 13.
Carson-Newman swept the weekly honors twice in 2014. On September 30 Jenna Wilson and Kristen Pickett were honored and October 14 Rachel Harper and Pickett took home the hardware.
It's the second time this season a duo from the same team won a weekly accolade during the same week with Wingate's Abby Saehler and Kimberly Hovey being recognized.
Borch is the third Carson-Newman player to win the Player of the Week plaudit joining two-time winners Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) and Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.).
The junior racked up 50 points, 42 kills and 12 digs on a .463 attack percentage in four matches. In the first match of the week at Mars Hill, Borch had 13 kills on a .440 attack percentage in a sweep of the Lions. Borch's best match of the week came against Catawba in five sets as she notched a career-high 16 kills and 20 points while hitting a career-best .536 with two service aces and two blocks. The middle blocker capped the week with 13 total kills compared to just two attack errors with three blocks against Queens and Columbus State.
"I think what worked well was spreading out the hitters," Borch said. "Trying different things and not just going to the same one every time. I think it says a lot about our team. Our team is young but we are pretty strong."
Patton is the third setter in program history to win the award multiple times in a single season joining Pickett's two honors in 2014 and Stephanie Cutter who won three times in 2009.
"It's an honor because they were obviously really good players," Patton said. "They were part of a really good team so I think that says a lot about our team that our team is definitely moving in the right direction."
The sophomore started the week with back-to-back double-doubles after totaling 152 assists, 33 digs and eight service aces. A 35-assist and 10-dig performance at Mars Hill started things for the setter. Her 10th double-double of the year came in a five-set victory over Catawba as Patton had 48 assists and 15 digs marking the eighth time this season she had 40 or more assists. On the final day of competition last week, Patton had 35 assists and seven assists against the Royals and 34 assists and a career-high four service aces versus Columbus State.
The Eagles are in action Tuesday evening at Lincoln Memorial for a 7 p.m. first serve from Mary Mars Gymnasium.
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