IRVINE, Calif. -- Freshman Shane Aitken has been named Big West Defensive Player of the Week after UC Irvine's two wins against UC Santa Barbara.

The libero had a career-high 13 digs in the win over UC Santa Barbara on the road then had six digs versus the Gauchos back in the Bren Center for the second meeting. He also added six set assists in the first meeting.

As well as patrolling the backline, he passed 32 balls without a reception error over the two matches.

For the week, Aitken averaged 2.38 digs per set last week.

This is Aitken's first Big West weekly honor and UCI's third Defensive honor of the season joining previous selections Maxim Grigoriev (Feb. 17) and Mich Goss (Jan. 27).

No. 4 UC Irvine will host No. 9 CSUN in the home finale Thursday (Apr. 17) at the Bren Events Center beginning at 6:00 p.m.