ATLANTA, Ga. - Senior Kasey Laird got started her season started off with a bang as she earned the inaugrual Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Southern Athletic Association for her phenomenal play the last two weekends.

Laird led the team defensively with 90 total digs and 27 blocks to get the Majors off to a 6-1 start in the 2012 campaign. Laird had at least 10 or more digs in four of her first seven games and was brilliant against Belhaven on Sept. 1st with 26 digs. 

She also had a season high seven block assists in a win over UT-Tyler on Sept. 8th. She was named to the All-Tournament Team to both the Millsaps Invitational and the UT-Tyler Invitational.

Laird was also unbelievable offensively with 82 total kills in 196 total attacks (.337 attack percentage) in her first two weekend of action. She came through with 10 or more kills in four of seven matches she played in including 17 kills on Sept. 7th against East Texas Baptist. She also came through with three service aces on Sept. 7th against LeTourneau.

She also became the 10th Major to join 1,000-1,000 club on Sept. 7th against ETBU.

"Kasey had a phenomenal weekend and was definitely are most consistent and most effective player throughout," says Head Coach Jaime Fisher. "She was definitely the one that held us together when we had some tough moments and she was the one we relied on."

Laird and the Majors are back in action tomorrow night as they open the SAA season against Birmingham-Southern at 7 p.m. All fans are asked to wear purplea at the game.