Sept. 5, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the second-straight week, a Tiger volleyball player has received Conference USA weekly honors as junior middle blocker Shelby Burton was named the league's Player of the Week by the conference office today. Burton, who has earned all-tournament accolades in both tournaments this year, led Memphis to a 3-0 mark and the Trojan Labor Day Classic title last weekend.

A week after dominating the opposition and earning MVP recognition at the Evansville Aces Invitational, Burton earned all-tournament honors after scoring 65 points, with 45 kills (4.5 k/g), a .455 attack percentage and 11 service aces. The San Antonio native was solid on the defensive side of the net as well, notching a team-best 14 total blocks (1.40 b/g). Burton got her week started with 18 kills and three solo blocks to lead Memphis to a 3-1 win over UT-Martin. She was the lone player to reach double figures--with 10 kills--in a short three-set match versus Alcorn State. Against the Braves, Burton served up seven aces, two shy of the all-time Memphis single-match record. She capped her weekend by downing 17 kills (.455), making eight total blocks (1 block solos, 7 block assists) and serving five aces to lead Memphis to a 3-0 triumph over Troy in the Trojan Labor Day championship contest.

Through two weeks of play, Burton leads Memphis' offense with 94 kills, a .472 attack average and 16 service aces. She also leads the team on the defensive side of the net, with 29 total blocks.

"Shelby has had two great weekends," said head coach Carrie Yerty. "She is deserving of the conference award, and I am excited to see her continue to grow as she leads our Tiger offense and defense."

The Tigers' 6-0 start is the best start since the 2001 season when Memphis reeled off 10-straight wins to start the season. Under Yerty, only the 2001 (10-0) and 1997 (7-0) teams have gotten off to better starts.

Burton and the Tigers host the Tiger Invitational this Friday and Saturday. In the first of a pair of home tournaments in consecutive weeks, the Tigers will host Lipscomb and Southeast Missouri at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively in a doubleheader on Friday. Memphis will take on UALR at 2 p.m., and Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. on Saturday.