Tijerina Named GAC Defensive Player of the Week
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced its Players of the Week for week ten of the 2025 volleyball season, with East Central University libero
Valentina Tijerina earning Defensive Player of the Week honors following a strong performance during the Tigers' 1-1 week.
The award marks the first GAC weekly honor of Tijerina's career and the first defensive weekly award for ECU since the 2023 season.
A senior from Matamoros, Mexico, Tijerina anchored the Tigers' back row with a conference-leading 50 digs for an impressive 7.14 digs per set average. She recorded 19 digs against Southeastern Oklahoma State before posting a season-high 31 digs in ECU's thrilling 3-1 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Tijerina and the Tigers now turn their attention to the final week of regular-season GAC play, beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 11, when they travel to Bethany to face Southern Nazarene University at 6 p.m. ECU will then return home for Senior Night on Thursday, Nov. 13, to host Oklahoma Baptist University in their final match of the regular season.
