IRVINE, Calif. — Dominican University of California senior middle blocker Samantha Rains has been named this week's Hawai'i Tourism Authority PacWest Volleyball Defender of the Week. The award is based on matches played Sept. 8-14.

Rains was named to the all-tournament team of the Dominican pod of the PacWest/GNAC Crossover with a stellar weekend in the middle for the Penguins. She logged 24 total blocks in the four matches, averaging 1.71 per set. Both marks were the best in the field. She recorded 10 total blocks and six kills in a sweep of Simon Fraser. Rains currently is ninth in the nation in NCAA Division II and leads the PacWest in total blocks (39) and blocks per set (1.44).

The Penguins begin conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at PacWest rival Academy of Art. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion in Golden Gate Park.