CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its volleyball weekly awards, Monday, recognizing Ruth Martinez as the ACC Freshman of the Week. This is Martinez’s third consecutive nod and fourth of the 2026 campaign.

Martinez was a crucial piece of Miami’s reverse sweep of No. 5 SMU, Friday, leading the way with 29 kills, a career high. She tallied five kills in each of the first two sets, entering the must-win third set with 10 kills.

In the third, the Hurricanes played a balanced offense as five different players had at least one kill, including Martinez with two.

Martinez dominated early in the fourth set, keeping the Canes alive in the match. In a set Miami would eventually win 33-31, she exploded for 14 kills, nine of which came in the Hurricanes’ first 13 points.

The freshman added three kills in the fifth, helping Miami to an early 5-0 lead and the victory.

Martinez and the Hurricanes also played at No. 2 Pitt on Sunday. She led Miami with 10 kills, adding an assist, ace, four digs and five blocks. She finished the weekend with 39 kills, two assists, two service aces, eight digs, and 11 blocks.

Her first ACC weekly award came on Sept. 21 after Martinez exploded for a 36-kill weekend against LSU and Tulsa. She also earned the award on Oct. 5 after 33 kills against Wake Forest and NC State and on Oct. 12 thanks to 46 kills and a .382 hitting percentage on the weekend against Clemson and Georgia Tech

Earning her fourth ACC Freshman of the Week honor, Martinez trails only Haley Templeton for most freshman of the week awards in a season for the Hurricanes. Templeton earned the recognition five times in 2014.

Martinez and the Hurricanes will return to action this weekend, hosting Notre Dame and Louisville at the Freeman Indoor Stadium at the Knight Sports Complex. Miami will first take on the Fighting Irish on Friday, Oct. 23 with first serve set for 6 p.m.