Two Long Beach State athletes were honored by the Big West Conference on Monday. Sophomore middle blocker Haleigh Hampton of the women’s volleyball team and senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves of the women’s soccer team were named Big West Player of the Week for the first time this season.
Hampton earned the award after posting her second double-double of the year against Cal State Fullerton, which followed an error-free performance against UC Irvine.
Hampton piled up nine kills on .500 hitting to lead the ‘Niners to a sweep of the Anteaters on the road.
Hampton followed up that performance with a double-double in a four-set victory over defending Big West Champion Cal State Fullerton. She recorded 13 kills on .417 hitting, to go with 10 total blocks (three solo and seven block assists).
Hampton’s award is the first Big West Player of the Week honor for the volleyball team in the 2011 season. It’s also the first career Player of the Week award for Hampton as well.
The ‘Niners (10-6, 4-2 Big West) will play host to UC Davis on Friday and the University of the Pacific on Saturday at the Walter Pyramid. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves was named the Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
It marks the first weekly honor for Gustaves and the second for the soccer team this season as Nadia Link was tabbed the offensive player of the week on Sept. 5.
Gustaves anchored the 49ers’ defense in a 2-1 overtime victory against Fullerton on Sunday. After the Titans struck in the 28th minute, Gustaves stepped up her game and didn’t allow a goal the rest of the way. That gave LBSU the opportunity to come back in the final minute with Nicole Hubbard scoring the equalizer with 12 seconds left in the match. Link would eventually put away the game-winner with the golden goal just over four minutes into the first extra period.
Gustaves compiled a career-high nine saves, while facing 13 shots in the victory. She had four stops in the first half and five in the second period.
The Long Beach native has played every minute in front of the net for the ‘Niners, registering 44 saves, five shutouts and a 0.91 goals against average this season. Her goals against average, shutout total and minutes played all rank among the top 10 in the LBSU single-season record books.
The Beach (10-3-1, 3-0 Big West) will look to stay perfect in conference action this weekend when it heads to Cal State Northridge on Friday and UC Irvine on Sunday.
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