NEW ORLEANS – Madison Daigle and Emily DeWalt both earned Sun Belt Conference weekly accolades after leading the Texas State volleyball team to a perfect weekend, the league announced Monday afternoon.
 
Daigle, a senior middle blocker from Baton Rouge, La., was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week. DeWalt, a native of Helotes, Texas, picked up both Sun Belt Setter of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors.
 
The duo helped lead the Bobcats to the only 4-0 week in the Sun Belt. The maroon and gold topped UTSA, James Madison, Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian to win the 2018 Creeds & Crests Classic. The tournament title was the first trophy won by the maroon and gold since 2015, when Texas State also captured their home championship early in the campaign. DeWalt was honored as tournament MVP, while Daigle was selected to the all-tournament team.
 
Daigle recorded 24 blocks (1.60/set) and 13 digs (0.87/set) across the four victories. She began with six blocks, four digs and career highs in kills (16) and assists (4) against rival UTSA. She then set a new career high with six digs against JMU before wrapping up her week with 14 kills, eight blocks, three digs and two aces against Abilene Christian. On top of her overall defensive production, Daigle totaled 44 kills (2.93/set) on a .417 attack percentage to go along with six assists.
 
The accolade is the second defensive plaudit of her career (Sept. 11, 2017) and her fourth Sun Belt honor overall. She was twice named the league's top freshman in 2015.
 
DeWalt used the first four double-doubles of her young career to become the first Sun Belt freshman since Nov. 11, 2013, to bring home setter of the week laurels (Mallory Warrington, Arkansas State).
 
Not only did she record 166 assists (11.07/set), but she also stuffed the stat sheet with 57 digs (3.80/set), 11 kills (0.73/set), 10 blocks (0.67/set) and eight service aces (0.53/set). She posted 47 assists and 24 digs against the Roadrunners, and her dig total was the highest by a Bobcat setter since 2007 (Shelbi Irvin). After totaling 39 assists, 10 digs, four blocks, three aces and two kills against the Dukes, she closed with 44 assists, 13 digs, five kills, three aces and three blocks against the Wildcats.
 
Texas State is currently on the road to face Rice at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 inside Tudor Fieldhouse. The trip marks the first time since 1999 that the Bobcats will battle the Owls in Houston.
 
SBC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas State senior middle blocker Madison Daigle – Baton Rouge, La.
 
SBC VOLLEYBALL CO-SETTER OF THE WEEK
Texas State freshman Emily DeWalt – Helotes, Texas
Appalachian State senior Becky Porter – Charlotte, N.C.
 
SBC VOLLEYBALL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Texas State setter Emily DeWalt – Helotes, Texas
 
SBC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UTA junior outside hitter Madison Hill – Rockwall, Texas
 
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