NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Ruxandra Flueras was named Monday as Red River Athletic Conference Defender of the Week in women's volleyball for Sept. 11-17.
        Flueras won for the third consecutive week.
        Flueras, a junior libero from Chieri, Italy, and a transfer from Colby (Kan.) Community College, had a series-high 32 digs in the Gold Nuggets' two-match RRAC sweep at Louisiana Christian. Flueras helped XULA limit LCU to an .051 hitting percentage and 7.5 kills per set. LCU entered the series with a 5-0 record and hit .164 and averaged 10.59 kills per set in those first five matches.
        Flueras' two-match totals included nine assists, two aces and 5.33 digs per set.
        XULA has won all four RRAC weekly defensive awards this season. Taylor Parker won the first.
        Next for XULA will be a two-match RRAC series at its Convocation Center against Southwest (N.M.): 7 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. The Gold Nuggets, Our Lady of the Lake and Texas A&M-Texarkana share first place in the conference with 4-0 records. XULA is 7-4 overall.

XULA women's volleyball 2023 Red River Athletic Conference Players of the Week
•  Aug. 21-27:  Bengisu Kazazlar, setter; Taylor Parker, defender
•  Aug. 28-Sept. 3:  Amani Mason, attacker; Ruxandra Flueras, defender
•  Sept. 4-10:  Kennedy Wade, attacker; Ruxandra Flueras, defender
•  Sept. 11-17:  Ruxandra Flueras, defender

Photo of Ruxandra Flueras by Yamlak Tsega