PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati junior Annie Fesl is the second setter to be named the BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Week after leading the Bearcats to a 3-0 record last week, which qualified the defending regular season champions for a spot in the 2009 BIG EAST Championship. Louisville’s Lola Arslanbekova also helped the Cardinals to a perfect record with two league victories and earned her third Freshman of the Week honor.

Fesl, a Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selection, keyed Cincinnati to three wins last week, including two home victories which extended the Bearcats’ program record for consecutive home wins to 25. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native averaged 10.30 assists per set while helping UC to a .321 team attack percentage in league games. Fesl posted back-to-back double-doubles in wins against Marquette and Syracuse. She totaled 11 kills, 103 assists, four service aces, 34 digs and two blocks in 10 sets last week.

Arslanbekova becomes the first rookie this season to earn three top freshman awards. The Tashkent, Uzbekistan, native had 20-plus kills in both game with 23 against Syracuse and 21 against Marquette. She hit .321 for the week while also adding two service aces, 11 digs and three blocks to her totals. The outside hitter led all BIG EAST players in kills (44), kills per set (6.29) and points per set (6.79).

Weekly Honor Roll: Kristen Dealy, Notre Dame, So., OH; Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh, Sr., MH; Kristina Gallahan, West Virginia, Sr., OH; Meghan Matusiak, Seton Hall, So., OPP; Caitlin Saxton, Rutgers, Jr., OH

Note: Three teams qualified for the 2009 BIG EAST Championship in Louisville Ky., on Nov. 20-22 with league victories this past week. Notre Dame (10-0), Cincinnati (9-1) and Pittsburgh (9-2) have all claimed spots in the conference tournament.