BROOKLYN, N.Y.— Junior libero Natalia Rivera was named Molten/Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday. 

The Puerto Rico native has garnered the league's defensive player of the week seven times in her career. She posted a 6.46 digs per set average this past weekend as LIU hosted the 2018 Blackbird Invitational. Rivera opened the weekend with 33 digs, a new NEC single-match high this season in the 3-1 win over Holy Cross on Friday afternoon. 

She added 22 digs and 29 digs in the Blackbirds tightly contested losses to USF and George Washington. Rivera also posted a team-high four service aces, earning All-Tournament team honors. She currently leads the NEC in digs with a 5.03 digs per set average.

LIU travels to the University of Miami for a two-game weekend beginning on Friday, September 14 at 6:00 p.m.