Maya Bukovcan Earns Big South Player of the Week After Record-Setting Weekend

HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University middle blocker Maya Bukovcan has been named Big South Player of the Week after a record-setting road weekend that helped the Panthers continue a perfect start to conference play.

Bukovcan was remarkably efficient across High Point's victories at USC Upstate and UNC Asheville, finishing the weekend with 22 kills on 28 attacks and only one error for a .750 hitting percentage. She averaged 3.67 kills, 2.00 blocks and 1.33 digs per set, producing 5.08 points per set as the Panthers swept both matches.

The sophomore's signature performance came Saturday at UNC Asheville. Bukovcan converted nine of 10 attacks without an error, good for a .900 hitting percentage that established a new High Point single-match program record. The previous mark belonged to Gabrielle Idlebird, who hit .846 on 11-for-13 attacking in 2022.

Bukovcan also made an impact at the net beyond her offense. She totaled 12 blocks over the two-match weekend, including eight against UNC Asheville, while adding eight digs, an assist and a service ace.

The Asheville victory was High Point's third consecutive sweep to begin Big South play. HPU won the sets 25-19, 25-23 and 25-14, improving to 9-4 overall and 3-0 in conference competition. The Panthers used a balanced attack around Bukovcan, with Aisha Keric and Élodie Lalonde adding eight kills apiece and Ryley Boyne contributing six.

The weekly honor is Bukovcan's second Big South Player of the Week award this season. She also earned the conference's first Player of the Week award of 2026 following the opening weekend.

For High Point, the recognition adds another individual milestone to a strong opening stretch of conference play. Bukovcan's combination of attacking efficiency and blocking has given the Panthers production on both sides of the net as the schedule moves deeper into October.

HPU steps outside conference play Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. match at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, before returning to its Big South schedule.