(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 7)--Paula Ferreira of Columbia College has earned the first American Midwest Conference Volleyball Player of the Week honor for the 2010 season. The award covers matched played from Aug. 30-Sept. 5.

Ferreira, a sophomore setter from Rio de Janiero, Brazil, led the No. 7-ranked Cougars to a 4-1 record last week. In the five matches, Ferreira handed out 171 assists, averaging nearly 11 assists per set. She also handled 50 digs and posted 21 kills, five blocks and four service aces. Ferreira had her most productive match of the week in a sweep of Wiley College. In that contest she had 39 assists to go along with six kills and 10 digs.

In the five matches for Columbia, Ferreira reached the 30-assist mark four times and had at least 10 digs in three contests. Ferreira was the AMC Setter and Freshman of the Year in 2009.

OTHERS NOMINATED FOR AMC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ashley Robinson of Park University and Lauren Fleming of William Woods University