Aug. 29, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Altrese Hawkins and Hajnalka Molnar were recognized by Conference USA as the Offensive Player of the Week and Setter of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday.

Hawkins was named the Memphis Invitational Most Valuable Player after leading the Tigers to four-straight victories. She averaged 4.27 kills per set, including hitting .630 against SEMO en route to leading the Tigers to their 800th program win. For the weekend, she was credited with a .383 hitting efficiency (64K, 13E, 133TA). Hawkins collects her third career Offensive Player of the Week honor.

Molnar averaged a league-best 13.27 assists per set and posted 35 digs in four matches. The junior played every point in the Tigers' four-straight victories in the Memphis Invitational, leading them to their 800th program win over Southeast Missouri on Friday. This is Molnar's first career Setter of the Week honor.

"Obviously, I am honored to have two players recognized by the conference," head coach April Jauregui said. "This is the first selection for Hajnalka and I am very proud if her. She set well this weekend. Altrese proved again that she is a dynamic force at the net. This year she is not a secret, so she will have more teams focused on her and that in turn helps open up other players. I am pleased with the outcome this weekend but our work has just begun. We have high goals for our team this season."

Memphis his the road for the first time this weekend, as the team travels to San Francisco, Calif. for the USF Asics/Powerade Challenge. The Tigers will take on Providence at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Sept. 2 and then play Columbia and San Francisco at and 2:30 p.m. (CT) and 9 p.m. (CT) respectively.