Former Nansemond River High School volleyball star Courtney Lowers started a junior season of increased responsibility and continued development at Randolph-Macon College by receiving conference recognition almost immediately.

The Yellow Jackets’ standout outside hitter was named the initial Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week for volleyball this season based on her strong play in her team’s first three matches.

“It’s a very nice honor to have,” Lowers said of the award, especially this early in the season. “I obviously would not have been able to get this honor without my teammates pushing me.”

The team went 2-1 during the final days of August, starting with a 3-0 victory over host North Carolina Wesleyan College in which she recorded 20 total attacks, nine kills and no attack errors, resulting in an attack percentage of .450. She also had seven digs.

The next two games were against highly regarded teams at the Berry Invitational. Despite her team losing 3-1 to Emory University, Lowers had 59 total attacks, 22 kills and 13 digs. Later that day, she produced 39 total attacks, 13 kills and nine digs in a 3-1 win over host Berry College.

“She’s had a pretty outstanding effort in our first few matches, but she’s had a few outstanding since then, too,” Randolph-Macon coach Bill Rogers said.

Lowers currently leads her team with 140 kills and is tied for the team lead in aces with 11.

“She has great leadership, she’s the mother hen to the team,” Rogers said. “We all enjoy coaching her, so I think she’s about all we could ask for.”

He noted she first became a team captain last spring, as a sophomore, which is pretty unusual.

Lowers said she is enjoying the role.

“It’s very nice,” she said. “I love leading people and helping people out.”

She said it can be stressful at times, of course, but it has given her insight into the team and has taught her life lessons on how to deal with different people in different situations.

She was already leading the Yellow Jackets with her play last season when she finished with 265 kills and a .294 attack percentage.

Noting Lowers has come a long way since high school, Rogers commented on her development in college when he said, “Since her sophomore year, I think she’s really hit her stride.”

Lowers said, “I know my speed in volleyball has definitely picked up a lot. It gets faster every year,” and she has noticeably come closer to being a complete player. “This year I am playing all the way around.”

She praised her coaches for their role in her growth, and Rogers indicated Lowers’ continuing growth has even been observable through the eight matches played this season.

“She’s improved probably in every match that we’ve played,” he said, adding that she is a very driven individual, “so she listens and applies things really well.”

Lowers is using her drive to meet her goals of winning an ODAC championship and becoming an All-American.