Nov. 26, 2007

LAS VEGAS - UNLV middle blocker Lauren Miramontes has been named Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week, marking her fourth weekly award of the season and fifth of her career.

A 6-3 senior from Upland, Calif., Miramontes led the second-seeded Rebels to their first-ever Mountain West Conference Championship last week with victories over Wyoming, BYU and Utah. She began the tournament with a 19-kill, eight-block performance in UNLV's 3-1 quarterfinal win over Wyoming. Miramontes also contributed five digs and two service aces, while hitting .341 vs. the Cowgirls. In the semifinals vs. BYU, Miramontes put down an MWC Championship and school-record 34 kills with seven total blocks, three digs and one assist in the Rebels' five-game victory. Her 34 kills also ranks as the third-highest single-match total in MWC history. In the championship match vs. Utah, Miramontes had 30 kills (.397 hitting efficiency), nine total blocks and three digs. For the tournament, she totaled 83 kills, which is also a new MWC Volleyball Championship record.

For the week, Miramontes averaged 5.93 kills, 1.71 blocks, 0.79 digs and 7.18 points per game.