Zoi Evans Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After an excellent weekend on both sides of the ball, Arkansas middle blocker Zoi Evans was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

The honor is the first for Evans in her career and Arkansas’ first Defensive Player of the Week nod since Courtney Jackson on Sept. 11, 2023. The senior helped lead Arkansas to four consecutive sweeps in the Wooo Pig Invitational as the Hogs extended their season record to 7-0, the first time since 2002 that Arkansas has started 7-0.

Over the four matches, Evans recorded 23 blocks, two solo and 21 block assists. Eight of those came in the team’s 3-0 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, just one shy of her career high. Evans posted at least four blocks in every match of the tournament, matching what was her season high after the opening weekend of play. She is currently sixth in the SEC in blocks per set with 1.29 and third in total blocks with 31.

Evans also recorded 16 total kills in the Wooo Pig Invitational and had a combined hitting percentage of .516, never hitting less than .400 in any match.

Zoi and the Hogs continue non-conference play this week with the Tulsa Volleyball Invitational Sept. 12-13. Arkansas opens play against the host Golden Hurricane on Thursday at 6:30, with action broadcast live on ESPN+. The Razorbacks then take on the Stephen F. Austin Lady Jacks on Friday at 4 p.m.