FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ Michael Washington was named a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference center by the league’s coaches Monday.

Washington, of McGhee, led the SEC in rebounding last season with 9.8 rebounds per game and was a second-team, all-league center a year ago. He also averaged 15.5 points per game as a junior and was a major force in the lane. In his first year as a starter, Washington increased his scoring by more than 10 points per game and rebounding by six. In SEC play, he averaged 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds.

Petrus Honored By SEC

Arkansas senior Mitch Petrus has been honored by the SEC as the Offensive Lineman of the Week for his part in the Razorback’s 63-27 homecoming victory over Eastern Michigan.

Petrus and the offensive line gave the Arkansas quarterbacks time to combine for 19-of-27 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The line also paved the way for the Razorbacks to carry the ball 30 times for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

Norton Named Freshman Of The Week

Arkansas outside hitter Jasmine Norton was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday. Norton turned in a pair of double-double performances last weekend in matches against Kentucky and Tennessee. She becomes the third player since the inception of the award to garner four honors in one season.

Against the Wildcats, Norton had 19 kills and 13 digs. Her kill total against Kentucky is the highest for Norton against a ranked team this season. In the weekend finale, she tallied 22 kills at a .360 hitting efficiency.

She added a team-high 14 digs. She also had two service aces and four total blocks, one off her career high. Norton’s performance against the Lady Vols was her seventh match this season with at least 20 kills.

Norton has posted double-digit kills in ten consecutive matches and now has eight double-double efforts this season. For the week, the Rowlett, Texas, native averaged 4.56 kills per set, 3.00 digs per set and 5.11 points per set.

Arkansas returns to the court at 1 p.m. Sunday for a matchup with No. 19 LSU in Barnhill Arena.

The match will be televised by CSS.

Sports, Pages 10 on 11/03/2009