Queens University of Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Queens University of Charlotte’s Ashley Winters (Fredericktown, Ohio, Highland) has been selected as the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas women’s volleyball Player of the Week during week number one in the 2010 season.

The redshirt freshman led the Royals to their first 4-0 start since 2005 with wins over Johnson C. Smith, Saint Augustine, Virginia Union, and Columbia at the Double B Graphix Invite. Stepping in after an injury-shortened 2009, Winters put up a career high stats in kills in consecutive matches en route to the Royals owning the best overall record in the Conference Carolinas.

Winters is the first Royal to win the award since Taquina Billups and Katrina Horace each earned the honor during the 1999 season. She is also the first Royal to win the award during head coach Angela McGuire’s three years on the bench at Queens.

"I am extremely proud of Ashley for winning this award," said McGuire. "She is one of our most selfless, humble players on the team and her work ethic is unmatched."

After spending most of last season on the sideline, Winters is happy to take leadership role on a roster filled primarily of underclassmen. She and McGuire are excited about the direction the program is headed and look forward to continued success throughout the season.

"She acknowledged that she could not have won this without her team, and that is the type of attitude I hope to see in all my players. She is one of the major reasons our team is currently undefeated and I have very high hopes for her future here at Queens."