Nov. 9, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern junior middle blocker Sabel Moffett (Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) has been named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week after a pair of big performances against Michigan State and Michigan over the weekend. It is the first Player of the Week honor of Moffett's career.
Moffett recorded 10 blocks against both the Spartans and the Wolverines, tying her career-best. It is the fourth time in her career she has reached double-digit block totals and the third time this season. Moffett also recorded her second career double-double against the Spartans, knocking down 17 kills while adding nine more against the Wolverines.
The Big Ten's overall block leader with 140 (22 solo, 118 assisted), Moffett also ranks third in the conference in blocks per set at 1.44. She moved into ninth place among the Wildcats' all-time block assist leaders over the weekend with 260 for her career. Her 54 solo blocks and 314 career blocks are both on the verge of breaking into the program's top-10 lists. Moffett is also hitting .375 on the year for Northwestern, which looks to shatter Erika Lange's .343 in 2002 as the program's top single season high.
Moffett garners the third Defensive Player of the Week honor for Northwestern this season, as teammate Kate Nobilio has captured the award twice already (Sept. 1 and Nov. 2). She becomes the 15th Wildcat to be named Player of the Week, and it marks the first time since 2005 that Northwestern has had the conference's top player in back-to-back weeks.
Moffett and the rest of the Wildcats head back on the road for a pair of crucial Big Ten matches this weekend. Northwestern visits Columbus, Ohio, to face Ohio State at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 13, before heading east to University Park, Pa., for a 6 p.m. CT showdown with top-ranked and undefeated Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 14.