COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State right-side hitter Erin Gillcrist (Lakewood, Colo.) was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in the Aztecs' season-ending 3-0 victory over Colorado State at home on April 3.
With her award, the SDSU senior captain garnered the first conference weekly award of her career and the Aztecs' second of the season after fellow classmate Lauren Lee received the same distinction on March 22.
In her final collegiate start, Gillcrist tied for match-high honors with six total blocks, including a solo stop, to equal her season-best. She also established a career-high with six digs, helping the Scarlet and Black snap an 11-match losing streak to Colorado State.
Gillcrist was an integral part of an SDSU defense that limited the Rams to a season-low .076 hitting percentage after they entered the match with a .232 clip as a team, which ranked second in the conference. The Aztecs held CSU's top two hitters by percentage, Sasha Colombo and Karina Leber, to a combined .034 pace (9-8-29) after the Ram duo came into the contest ranked third and 10th in the MW, respectively.
Gillcrist set the tone early with four block assists in the first set alone, including two during a 9-3 closing run, as San Diego State pulled away, 25-14. The Aztecs captured the final two frames, 25-20 and 25-19, to complete the sweep.
Though not a part of her defensive plaudits, Gillcrist also aided the Aztec cause with five kills on nine attempts with no errors for an efficient .556 hitting percentage.
For the season, Gillcrist led the Scarlet and Black with 40 blocks overall and ranked fourth with 85 kills. The Lakewood, Colorado, native finished her Aztec career with 434 kills, 166 total blocks and 88 digs.
San Diego State finished eighth in the Mountain West during the 2021 spring campaign with a 6-9 record, winning three of its final four matches.
Erin Gillcrist Named MW Defensive Player of the Week
