NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Villanova volleyball picked up its first major conference weekly award of the 2024 season on Monday as Alyssa Nelson earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week following a 2-0 road trip to the Midwest. Sophomore outside hitter Abby Harrell was selected to the weekly honor roll, her second laurel this year and the fourth honor roll selection for the 'Cats on the season.

Nelson earned the first weekly honor of her career after the setter put forth 38 assists and a team-high 22 digs in a critical early weekend for the Wildcats, producing four points as well on a pair of both kills and aces. The first-year contributed her fifth-double-double as a Wildcat with a match-best 21 assists and a career-high 15 digs against DePaul, then dished out 17 helpers in a Saturday sweep of Xavier to keep VU one of two undefeated first-place BIG EAST squads.

Harrell led the Wildcats with 24 kills (3.43 per set) in a 2-0 weekend, pacing the 'Cats in terminations in both the win over DePaul and Xavier. The sophomore added three aces, 16 digs and three blocks to put forth the team's most points of the weekend, powering Villanova to its first 4-0 start since 2011. VU's star outside hitter contributed her third double-double of the year (team-high 12 kills, 11 digs) in a four-set win over DePaul, then again led her side in a sweep of Xavier with 12 terminations on .385 hitting.

The Wildcats prepare for a tough two-match home weekend, hosting a top-10 team in Creighton on Friday night before a Sunday afternoon matchup against RV Marquette.