UC Santa Barbara's Rebecca Saraceno (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS) was named this week's winner of the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week award after lifting the Gauchos to a 3-0 week, which included a win over No. 21 UC Irvine. This is the sixth time an athlete from UC Santa Barbara has received the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week award, with the last honor given Nov. 15, 2004, to Kristin Nelson. She also becomes the second Big West athlete to garner national player of the week accolades this season.

Saraceno opened the week with a 14-kill, 18-dig performance in the Gauchos 3-0 victory over Loyola Marymount. A few days later she began conference play with her second double-double of the week, tallying 12 kills and 11 digs in the sweep over UC Riverside.

Saraceno saved her best performance for last, notching a career-high 29 kills to lift UC Santa Barbara to a 3-2 win over No. 21 UC Irvine. Her 29 kills tied for third all-time in school history under the rally-scoring format. Saracenos most impressive effort came in the third set of the Gauchos-Anteaters showdown. Down 2-0 and 19-11 in the third set, Saraceno tallied nine kills in the match-changing third set and then six more in the decisive fifth set as UCSB made one of its best comebacks in school history.

For the week, the 6-2 outside hitter averaged five kills and four digs per set. UC Santa Barbara is now 11-2, its best start since the 2002 season and Saraceno has eight double-doubles this season.