LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's volleyball's Ireland McNees was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Tritons to a 2-0 week. The senior outside hitter averaged 5.00 points per set and led the conference with 41 kills and 45.0 total points.
 
It is the first Big West weekly honor for McNees and second for the Tritons this season. It is the 23rd conference weekly award for the Tritons since joining the Big West in 2021.
 
McNees averaged 4.56 kills and 1.33 digs with a .405 hitting percentage over nine sets, adding two aces and four blocks. 
 
On Thursday in a 3-1 victory at California Baptist, McNees recorded 19 kills on 35 swings with zero errors for a .543 hitting percentage. On Saturday, she registered a career-best 22 kills and 25.5 points to lead the Tritons in a five-set victory at UC Riverside.
 
McNees currently ranks fourth in the Big West in kills (207) and eighth in kills per set (3.34). She also ranks fourth in points (234) and 10th in points per set (3.77). 
 
The Tritons are tied for third in the Big West with a 3-1 record after the first two weeks of the conference schedule. UC San Diego returns to LionTree Arena this weekend to play host to two conference newcomers, taking on Sacramento State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Utah Valley on Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
PAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
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.