IRVINE, Calif. – Outside hitter Sophia Wendlick earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week after her stunning first weekend with the Gauchos. The junior transfer from Creighton was named MVP of the University of Arizona's Wildcat Classic and assigned to the All-Tournament team. 

The Gauchos opened their season 3-0 with a 3-2 defeat of Tarleton State and sweeps of Prairie View A&M and Arizona. They put on the best opening weekend of any Big West team and now sit atop the rankings. Wendlick drove the Gaucho offense, totaling 50.5 points and averaging 4.59 per set. Wendlick set career highs in eight categories against Tarleton State and made her all-time best 13 kills against Prairie View A&M.

Wendlick then reset her high in kills after making 19 against (RV) Arizona, who had previously been undefeated in the tournament, for the highest kill count of any player that weekend. 

She made 11+ kills in all three matches and hit .356 across the weekend. She also averaged 3.91 kills per set and totaled 20 digs for the weekend. 

Wendlick and the Gauchos will return to the court in their home debut on Sept. 3 versus Iowa State.