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BRISTOL, Conn.—Awards and accolades keep rolling in for University of Hawai'i women's volleyball player Nikki Taylor. On Wednesday, she became the first Rainbow Wahine to ever be named the espnW Volleyball National Player of the Week. Taylor, a 6-4 opposite from Honolulu, O'ahu and Kaiser High School, helped to lead UH to a thrilling five-set win over then-No. 2 Florida and go through the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge undefeated at 3-0 last week.
 
This week, Taylor became the first Rainbow Wahine to ever earn three-straight conference (Big West) Player of the Week awards. She was also voted the tourney's Most Outstanding Player and on Tuesday was selected as the AVCA National Player of the Week, becoming just the sixth UH player to ever earn the prestigious award.
 
Hawai'i rose four spots to No. 12 in the AVCA rankings this week after defeating previously unbeaten Florida and knocking off San Diego State and Eastern Washington in the three-day tournament. Taylor drilled a tourney-high 57 kills—including a career-high 27 against the Gators. Taylor recorded 16 blocks, 27 digs and nine aces for the tournament.
 
Overall, Taylor is ranked No. 2 in the nation averaging 6.12 points per set (kills + service aces + blocks) and No. 5 in the NCAA with 4.91 kills per set. She tops the Big West currently in five different statistical categories.

It is just the second year that espnW has been awarding National Player of the Week honors for women's volleyball. This year, Wyoming's senior libero Allison Waldvogel earned the first weekly honor of the season, then Florida's setter Mackenzie Dagostino earned the accolade in the second week of the season.
 
Hawai'i will play its final two non-conference matches of the pre-season this weekend against CSU Bakersfield. The 'Bows will battle the Roadrunners on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m. and then again on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 5:00 p.m. UH's Alumnae Game will be played at 3:00 p.m. prior to Sunday's match vs. CSUB.

espnW National Players of the Week - 2015
Sept. 2 - Allison Waldvogel (Wyoming)
Sept. 9 - Mackenzie Dagostino (Florida)
Sept. 16 - Nikki Taylor (Hawai'i)