NEW YORK - Villanova picked up its first two BIG EAST weekly award winners of the season this week, as senior libero Regan Lough was named Defensive Player of the week, and Kathleen Johnson was tabbed as Freshman of the Week. Each of them helped lead the Wildcats past No. 9 Creighton and Providence each in straight sets.
 
After being named to the Weekly Honor Roll five times, Lough finally broke through to take home Defensive Player of the Week. Lough led the conference in digs last week with 36 overall to average 6.00 per set in a 2-0 week for the third-place Wildcats. The senior libero collected 20 digs in a win over then-No.9 Creighton holding the Bluejays to their second lowest hitting percentage on the season at a .134 clip. Lough followed up Friday night's performance with 16 digs on Saturday in a sweep over Providence. Lough ranks fourth in BIG EAST action with 4.67 digs per set.
 
Kathleen Johnson is just the third freshman to win Freshman of the Week Honors, dethroning eight-time winner Keeley Davis of Creighton. Johnson had a breakout weekend for the Wildcats leading Nova to two victories. The freshman posted a team-high 13 kills on 18 attacks for a .667 hitting percentage against then-No. 9 Creighton. The rookie posted eight kills with just two errors to hit .333 in Sunday's sweep of Providence. She also picked up a pair of blocks. Johnson is now hitting .514 on the season and is yet to hit below .300 in any match that she has played more than a single set. Johnson leads the Wildcats in kills per set in conference play with 3.36.
 
Villanova will be back in action this weekend taking on DePaul on Friday night at 8 p.m. and No. 9 Marquette Saturday at 7 o'clock.