Lakeland University freshman Samya Hughes (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) received Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference weekly honors for the first time in her career when she was named the conference's Women's Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Hughes received the award after posting big hitting numbers in a pair of Muskies sweeps of NACC opponents last week. She totaled 35 kills over two matches (5.83 kills per set) with a .388 hitting percentage as Lakeland defeated Marian University and Rockford University in three sets each.

Hughes finished with 19 kills and a .452 hitting percentage in just three sets against Marian on Thursday, averaging better than six kills per set. She also added 16 kills with a .333 attack percentage plus two service aces in the victory over Rockford on Saturday.

Hughes is the first Lakeland women's volleyball player to receive a NACC weekly award since Susana Stevens was named the league's top offensive player Oct. 4, 2022. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter has been among the conference's very best outside hitters all season as a freshman, and her 293 kills and 3.91 kills/set both lead the NACC. Her kills total is 61 ahead of second-place Katie Borchert of Edgewood University and her kills/set number also is .50 ahead of Borchert in second.

Hughes also ranks tied for 15th in all of NCAA Division III in kills, and is 37th nationally in kills/set. For the season she is hitting .219 and also has 206 digs, 21 blocks and 19 service aces, leading the Muskies also in digs and aces and ranking tied for fourth in blocks. Hughes has posted at least 15 kills in 10 matches and has posted double-digit kills in 18 of the team's 21 matches.

Lakeland is 8-13 overall this season and 2-3 in the NACC, and returns to play Thursday when it travels to face Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee.