BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tennessee State's libero Eirini Bitsaktsi has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon. The freshman standout delivered a dominant performance in the Tigers' two-match road series at UT Martin, continuing her rise as one of the league's most reliable back-row anchors.

Bitsaktsi piled up 58 digs across eight sets, averaging an impressive 7.25 digs per set, the top defensive mark in the conference for the week. She opened the series with 24 digs in Thursday's contest before erupting for a career-best 34 digs in Friday's five-set battle, showcasing elite range, control, and defensive instincts.

In addition to her digging efforts, the Athens, Greece native contributed two service aces and eight assists, helping TSU stay organized in serve-receive while generating transition scoring opportunities. Her consistency and presence in the back row played a major role in TSU's competitive momentum throughout the weekend.

This marks Bitsaktsi's first career OVC weekly honor, underscoring her immediate impact and the strength of her debut season with the Tigers.