As if the first few weeks of freshman year aren’t nerve-racking enough for a freshman, Lauren DeTurk is starting in five games for the Northeastern volleyball team before her first class.

The California native responded with a double-double in her debut, a five-game win over University of Maryland-Baltimore County. She followed up in the team’s loss to Villanova with another double-double, combining for 30 kills and 32 blocks in her first two collegiate games, earning her the distinction of The Northeastern News Player of the Week.

“I wasn’t even aware during the game how many kills or blocks I had,” DeTurk said. “It was after the game when I checked the statistics online that I realized how well the game went.”

The Colonial Athletic Association named DeTurk the Rookie of the Week. She is the first member of the volleyball team honored by the CAA.

“That is definitely a surprise, especially because I sprained my ankle,” she said.

The sprain, which occurred at the Loyola Marymount University/Four Points Sheraton Classic in California, is one of many injuries slowing the Huskies.

“The way we played last weekend should be our lowest on the season,” DeTurk said. “I think the injuries are on all of our minds, and we have to try and not think about it.”

DeTurk played Sunday’s game against Coastal Carolina injured, along with a few teammates to keep the team from forfeiting.

“I had to keep Lauren in the game because I ran out of substitutes and I didn’t want to forfeit,” said coach Ken Nichols.

Northeastern has high expectations for the 6-foot, 3-inch middle hitter. She and her partner won the 2003 Under-18 Division USA Junior Olympic Beach Volleyball National Championship. With the same partner, she qualified for a trip to Thailand to represent the U.S. in the FIVB Under-18 Volleyball World Championship where they finished ninth in the world.

– Compiled by Erika Carrubba, a member of the News Staff