EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball Aysa Thomas is named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row, Monday afternoon.

Thomas' consistent performance in the road series at Southeast Missouri State University helped USI to its first five-set win of the 2025 season. The Screaming Eagles finished the series at 3-3 in conference play and 7-11 overall.

The freshman recorded 98 assists, 45 digs, and four aces. She averaged 9.8 assists per set, 4.5 digs per set, and led the team to a .185 hitting percentage over the 10 sets played.

In game one against SEMO, the freshman had 52 assists and 19 digs, just one assist short of tying her career high while setting a new career high for digs. Thomas also landed three aces to help turn the momentum in pivotal moments throughout the five-set battle. She recorded her 10^th consecutive double-double in this win, a streak she has maintained since the Duquesne game on September 12^th.

Thomas had 46 assists in game two against the Redhawks and broke her digs record again, picking up 26 in the second five-set match of the weekend. Sophomore Audrey Small and Thomas each tallied 26 digs, marking the highest an Eagle has recorded in a game all season. Their combined 52 digs, along with those of three other Eagles in double-digit digs, helped the team reach 101 altogether, the highest count a USI team has had since the 2024 season opener.

This week's OVC honor marks the fourth time this season Thomas has earned an OVC award and is the second week in a row she has been named Freshman of the Week.

Next up, USI Volleyball is back home in Liberty Arena for a series against Little Rock, the current leader of the OVC standings, on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.