Garcia Fernandez collects AVCA Player of the Week

PROVO, Utah – BYU opposite hitter Gabi Garcia Fernandez received Sports Imports/AVCA Division I-II National Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday.

Garcia Fernandez averaged six points per set to help BYU split its two-game series with then-ranked No. 1 Hawai’i last week in Honolulu. The junior also averaged 1.375 aces per set from the service line to contribute 11 aces across the two matches and break the program’s single-season aces record with 56 total aces on the year. 

In the first match against the Rainbow Warriors, Garcia Fernandez led the team with 13 kills on a .688 clip while matching his career-high of eight aces to lead the Cougars to a win in straight sets. It marked the second time this season that he totaled eight aces and tie for the second-most aces scored in a single match by a BYU player. Garcia Fernandez stuffed the stat sheet the following night with a team-high 21 kills, eight digs, five blocks and three aces in the Cougars’ first loss of the season.

The junior currently leads the NCAA Division I-II in both aces per set (.918) and point per set (5.46). He also ranks within the top 25 nationally in kills per set (4.00), blocks per set (1.00), attacks per set (7.98) and hitting percentage (.343).

After collecting his third MPSF weekly recognition this season yesterday, Garcia Fernandez picks up AVCA Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and the third time in his career.