Calverley named NCCAA top player

Sophomore is Nat'l Player of the Week

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The National Christian College Athletic Association announced on Tuesday that Taylor Calverley , the 5-foot-10 setter from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, was the recipient of their National Player of the Week.

Calverley (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Preparatory School), a sophomore, was chosen from a field of seven finalists, the other six of whom were juniors or seniors.

According to the press release from their Greenville, South Carolina offices, the NCCAA stated that Calverley averaged 11.5 assists per game during a 3-0 week for the Lady Lions. In sweeping all three matches, Calverley worked with the precision of clockwork, racking up 25, 32 and 35 sets in victories over Southwestern Christian University (twice) and Mid-America Christian University, both schools from the Oklahoma City, Ok. area.

“Taylor is having a very good season. She works extremely hard and sets the offense at an excellent level,” said veteran head coach Hansford Moore.

Calverley added seven kills during 14 swings while making no errors. She also averaged 4.0 digs per game, with a high of 15 during the second meeting of the week against SCU.

“Taylor is doing a very good job running our offense and getting the ball where it needs to be,” Moore added. “She is using all of her hitters and keeping everyone involved. I'm very proud of her accomplishment as NCCAA National Player of the week!”

Calverley is currently averaging 8.96 assists per game. That figure ranks her fourth in the Red River Athletic Conference, where she also garnered dual awards as Setter of the Week as well as Player of the Week. Her assist average places her at #53 nationally in the NAIA and #17 in the NCCAA. In the Central Region, she rates as the #3 setter.

Southwestern hosts nation's top team on Saturday

SAGU, winners of seven straight while taking 21-of-22 games, will host a pair of matches this weekend. Our Lady of the Lake University visits the Sheaffer Center on Friday night at 7:00pm, while UT-Brownsville is in town for an 11:00am visit on Saturday. Unbeaten UTB is the #1 ranked team in the NAIA.

Two of the team's starters on the frontline, Krystal Cisneros (El Paso, Tx / Del Valle HS) and Kassy Cox (Lufkin, Tx / Lufkin HS) have been sidelined with injuries. Cisneros could return this weekend, while Cox is doubtful.

No official statement on either has been released from the SAGU Sports Medicine offices of Jaroy Carpenter.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde , Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.