Sept. 3, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford volleyball player Courtney Gay has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week for this past week. The honor, voted on by conference sports information directors, is given to the player who has achieved outstanding accomplishments on the court during the past week.

Gay, a junior Libero/defensive specialist, had the most outstanding week of her career this past week. The Sarasota, Fla. native helped lead the Bulldogs in a win over Chattanooga on Wednesday, setting a new career high in digs and a new Samford record for individual digs in a match with 42. She then turned around and broke those same two records Saturday night against McNeese State in Samford's Barber's Bulldog Classic. Despite the 3-2 loss to the Cowgirls, Gay managed to rake in 46 digs on the night.

Over the past week, Gay posted 123 digs in four matches, helping the Bulldogs to go 3-1. She tallied 7.24 digs per game while having two service aces and four assists.

"Courtney did an amazing job this past week," Samford head coach Michelle Durban said. "I think setting a school record and then breaking that in the span of three matches speaks for itself. Courtney has been working very hard this season and it is definitely showing with her defensive numbers."

Durban, Gay and the rest of the Bulldogs head to Chicago this weekend to play in the DePaul Tournament. Samford will first face of with Depaul at 7:30 p.m., Friday night and will take on South Alabama at 10 a.m. and Kennesaw State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.