<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0iIPzt_0vi0JJqZ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0iIPzt_0vi0JJqZ00" width="515" height="270" >Arizona volleyball head coach Rita Stubbs was excited about her freshman class this year. Everyone knew about top recruit Carlie Cisneros, but she wasn’t the only reason Stubbs felt that way. Freshman setter Avery Scoggins showed why this week by winning the Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">EARNED IT first conference honor for <a href="https://twitter.com/averyscoggins5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@averyscoggins5</a>! <a href="https://t.co/onKdZ9KPRP">https://t.co/onKdZ9KPRP</a><a href="https://t.co/nedMJ1zSfa">pic.twitter.com/nedMJ1zSfa</a>— Arizona Volleyball (@ArizonaVBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArizonaVBall/status/1838625963309195301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Scoggins started setting about four years ago. Stubbs has repeatedly stated that the rookie from North Carolina just understands the position. “You don’t have to tell her what to do,” Stubbs said. “You just have to tell her not to do something, because she tends to see things a little bit faster. She likes to go against the flow, versus setting into the grain of things, just because it is what it is. But a lot of it has to do with the hitters connecting with her and putting them in a position to be comfortable and be successful, as well.”It is showing through the nonconference portion of the season. Arizona averaged 10.9 assists per set through its pre-conference schedule last season. This year, the Wildcats average 13.54 assists per set. Despite playing four fewer sets in total, the team has 55 more assists. Scoggins is responsible for 11.13 of those assists per set, putting her second in the Big 12 and eighth in the nation.Scoggins’ setting has also helped her hitters improve their hitting percentages. As a team, the Wildcats are hitting .291 through pre-conference play. Last season, they hit just .230 prior to Pac-12 competition. The number of kills have gone up with Scoggins at setter. The Wildcats had 12.17 kills per set through their nonconference slate last season. This year, it’s up to 14.46 k/s. In total, they have 36 more kills in four fewer sets this season.The freshman setter kept it up in the final week of nonconference play. She led the Big 12 in assists per set with 12.50 in the Wildcats’ two matches against North Dakota State and Southern Utah. Her 75 total assists helped the team finish nonconference play with a perfect 11-0 record.Scoggins had her third double-double of the season in the Wildcats’ match against NDSU, contributing 38 assists and 10 digs in the sweep. She followed up with 37 assists and seven digs in a sweep of SUU.The setter becomes Arizona’s second Rookie of the Week honoree this season. Cisneros took the award after the opening week of play. It marks the first time in program history that two different players have been named the top rookie or freshman in their conference in the same season. The pair join freshman libero Brenna Ginder in carrying a big part of the responsibility for Arizona’s best start in 15 years.“We’re extremely grateful,” Scoggins said. “We love playing. We love playing volleyball. We love playing with this group of girls, and just we can make an immediate impact and really just help the team towards our goal. And we’re just willing to provide whatever we need to do to make sure we’re making progress in the future, and it really means a lot to me.” The Wildcats next take the court at No. 19 Baylor on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and follow that with a visit to No. 22 TCU on Friday, Sept. 27.Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Arizona setter Avery Scoggins named Big 12 Volleyball Rookie of the Week

Arizona volleyball head coach Rita Stubbs was excited about her freshman class this year. Everyone knew about top recruit Carlie Cisneros, but she wasn’t the only reason Stubbs felt that way. Freshman setter Avery Scoggins showed why this week by winning the Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor.