LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's volleyball had a pair of freshmen recognized by the conference with Big West Player of the Week honors after helping the Tritons go 3-0 in the opening weekend of the 2024 season.
Libero
Paulina Baillie was named Defensive Player of the Week and opposite
Molly McCluskey earned Freshman of the Week. The pair were also recognized on the UC San Diego Invitational All-Tournament Team, with McCluskey earning tournament MVP.
The duo become the 11th and 12th Tritons to be honored with weekly nods from the Big West since joining the conference in 2021.
PAULINA BAILLIE » BIG WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman
Paulina Baillie was outstanding in her first weekend of collegiate competition, starting all three of the Tritons' matches at the libero position. The Carlsbad native averaged 4.75 digs per set at the UC San Diego Invitational, collecting 57 total digs and one ace to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
Baillie collected 20 digs in her collegiate debut to help UC San Diego earn a three-set win over Northern Arizona on Friday. She followed up with 14 digs in the win on Saturday against Southern Utah and capped the weekend with 23 in the four-set victory over Gonzaga on Sunday.
MOLLY McCLUSKEY » BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
In her collegiate debut, freshman
Molly McCluskey made an immediate impact for the Tritons, earning tournament MVP at the UC San Diego Invitational. The opposite hitter averaged 3.42 kills and 4.13 points per set to lead the Tritons to a 3-0 weekend.
McCluskey played every set for the Tritons, collecting a team-high 41 kills with nine blocks and three aces to total 49.5 points. The Costa Mesa native also added 21 digs (1.75 per set) playing all six rotations for UC San Diego. McCluskey led the team with a match-high 14 kills in her first outing on Friday against Northern Arizona and tied for the team-high against both Southern Utah and Gonzaga with 14 and 13 kills respectively.
PAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Paulina Baillie, Defensive (Sep. 2, 2024)
Molly McCluskey, Freshman (Sep. 2, 2024)
Jasmine Saran, Defensive (Nov. 6, 2023)
Lauren Brooker, Freshman (Oct. 23, 2023)
Jasmine Saran, Defensive (Oct. 23, 2023)
Ava McInnes, Offensive (Sept. 18, 2023)
Lauren Brooker, Freshman (Sept. 18, 2023)
Emily McDaniel, Defensive (Aug. 28, 2023)
Lauren Brooker, Freshman (Aug. 28, 2023)
Ava McInnes, Offensive (Oct. 17, 2022)
Emily McDaniel, Freshman (Oct. 18, 2021)
Naya Dong, Defensive (Sept. 13, 2021)
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
