Nov. 12, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford outside hitter Brittany Howard has been named the Pac-12 women's volleyball Defensive and Freshman Player of the Week for Nov. 5-11, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. Stanford (24-2) defeated Washington State and No. 5 Washington last week to remain undefeated in the Pac-12 (16-0) and extend its winning streak to 22 matches.

Howard was a key part of the Cardinal's sweep over Washington State and a four-set win over then fifth-ranked Washington. The Los Altos, Calif., native averaged 3.14 kill, 6.14 digs and 0.57 blocks per set on the weekend. She posted her sixth double-double of the season against the Cougars with 10 kills and a team-high 12 digs to go with three blocks. Against the Huskies, Howard really made her presence felt in the back row as she posted her seventh double-double of the year and third in a row. She finished with a team-high 12 kills and 31 digs. The 31 digs were a career high and tied for the third most in a single match in school history, and the most by a non-libero.

It is the first defensive honor for Howard, who also earned Freshman of the Week accolades last week. Stanford now boasts 84 weekly awards and six Freshman of the Week honors. Howard is the second Cardinal to earn Defensive and Freshman of the Week nods in the same week, joining Jordan Burgess who accomplished the same feat on Sept. 24.

Stanford's 22 match winning streak marks its longest such streak in a single season under head coach John Dunning and the longest for the program in a single season since 1998.

The Cardinal travels to Los Angeles this week to take on No. 8 USC and No. 5 UCLA. Stanford will face the Trojans on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Galen Center and the Bruins on Friday, Nov. 16 at Pauley Pavilion. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m.