LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's volleyball's Gia Rivera was named Big West Rookie of the Week after leading the Tritons in a 1-1 showing at home. The freshman outside hitter averaged 4.57 points per set and finished third in the conference with 31 kills in seven sets.
 
It is the second Big West weekly honor for Rivera, who earned the same award earlier this season (Sept. 14) and third for the Tritons this season. It is the 24th conference weekly award for the Tritons since joining the Big West in 2021.
 
Rivera averaged 4.43 kills with a .417 hitting percentage, recording 31 kills on 60 swings with six errors. She also added six digs and one block assists, finishing with a team-best 32.0 points.
 
On Friday, Rivera tallied a team-high 18 kills with a .412 hitting percentage, adding four digs and one block against Sacramento State. She led the offense once again on Saturday, recording 13 kills on 26 swings with just two errors for a career-best .423 hitting percentage in a three-set sweep of Utah Valley.
 
Rivera currently ranks 12th in the Big West in kills per set (3.04) and 13th in points per set (3.27). 
 
The Tritons are tied for second in the Big West with a 4-2 record after the first three weeks of the conference schedule. UC San Diego will travel to face CSUN on Friday at 6 p.m. and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
PAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Gia Rivera, Rookie (Oct. 12, 2026)
Ireland McNees, Offensive (Oct. 5, 2026)
Gia Rivera, Rookie (Sept. 14, 2026)
Maria Fernanda Afonso, Offensive (Sept. 29, 2025)
Molly McCluskey, Offensive (Sept. 1, 2025)
Audrey Hollis, Setter (Nov. 11, 2024)
Paulina Baillie, Defensive (Nov. 11, 2024)
Paulina Baillie, Defensive (Nov. 4, 2024)
Molly McCluskey, Freshman (Nov. 4, 2024)
Audrey Hollis, Setter (Oct. 21, 2024)
Paulina Baillie, Freshman (Oct. 21, 2024)
Molly McCluskey, Freshman (Sept. 9, 2024)
Paulina Baillie, Defensive (Sept. 2, 2024)
Molly McCluskey, Freshman (Sept. 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.