TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball's Quincey Gary is this week's SEC Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Tuesday by the Southeastern Conference. The weekly honor is the first of Gary's career and Alabama's first defensive award since 2008.

The junior from Alexandria, Ind., had 70 digs over three matches last weekend, averaging 5.83 per set. She opened play at the Jaguar Invitational Friday night with 31 digs in the four-set win over tournament host South Alabama. The total is a career high for Gary and the largest total in a four-set match in program history. It is also the most in a match for any Tide player since Kelsey Anderson had 33 against SMU on Sept. 3, 2011.

Gary finished the weekend with another strong performance on Saturday, posting 30 digs in the five-set win over McNeese State. She now joins Amy Pauly (2005-08) as the only players in program history to have at least two matches with 30 or more digs in the same season.

Alabama makes its 2017 home debut this weekend, hosting the Hampton Inn Bama Bash at Foster Auditorium. The Tide opens against Tennessee State and Hofstra on Friday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. CT and 7:30 p.m. CT, respectively, before concluding against Furman on Saturday, Sept. 9 at noon.

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