NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Michaela Clayton was named Tuesday as Red River Athletic Conference Defender of the Week in women's volleyball.
        The award covered competitions from Oct. 6-12. This is the first weekly award of Clayton's XULA career.
        Clayton — a redshirt freshman from Thonotosassa, Fla., and a graduate of Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa — produced a career-best 26 digs in the Gold Nuggets' only match of the week, a five-set loss at William Carey. Clayton was errorless in 22 serve receptions.
        Clayton is fourth in the Red River this season with 232 digs and 3.80 digs per set.
        Upcoming matches:
        •  6 p.m. Wednesday at home (Convocation Center) vs. city rival Loyola
        •  6 p.m. Friday at home vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana
        •  Noon Saturday at home vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana
        •  6 p.m. Oct. 24 at Louisiana Christian, Pineville, La.

Photo of Michaela Clayton by Yamlak Tsega