LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Women’s Volleyball weekly award winners on Monday as Neumann’s Nayeli Cruz and Dani Smith earned Player and Specialty Player of the Week honors, respectively.
Player of the Week:
Name: Nayeli Cruz
School: Neumann
Class: Sophomore
Position: Hitter
Hometown: Carolina, Puerto Rico
High School: St. Francis
Brief Outlook of Week: Nayeli Cruz tallied 13 kills and seven digs in a 3-1 win over Gwynedd Mercy. In the conference opener and lone match of the week, the sophomore finished a .360 hitting percentage.
Specialty Player of the Week:
Name: Dani Smith
School: Neumann
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Hometown: Morinville, Alberta
High School: Morinville
Brief Outlook of Week: Dani Smith handed out 45 assists as Neumann opened conference action with a 3-1 win at Gwynedd Mercy. The senior added 19 digs, two service aces and two kills.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Bria Purnell (5th., Gwynedd Mercy): Purnell totaled 42.0 points (34 kills, 7 aces, 2 block assists) in a 1-1 week versus Rutgers Camden (W, 3-2; 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3 on Oct. 9) and AEC rival, Neumann University (L, 1-3; 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3 on Oct. 12). She eclipsed 20 kills for the fourth time this season - and second match in a row - against the Scarlet Raptors as she added three aces and nine digs to a 21-kill performance. Against the Knights, Purnell has the Griffins' best afternoon with 13 kills, four aces, two block assists, and 13 digs.
Ayanna Gaston (Jr., Gwynedd Mercy): Gaston guided the Griffins to a 1-1 week versus Rutgers-Camden (W, 3-2; 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3 on Oct. 10) and Neumann University (L, 1-3; 20-25, 15-25, 25-18, 19-25 on Oct. 12). She offered a career-high 58 assists against the Scarlet Raptors, while also recording an ace, four block assists, and 13 digs. Opposite the Knights, Gaston finished with two kills, 26 assists, three aces, and 10 digs.
Jenny Thistlewaite (So., Centenary): Had 14 kills, five aces and 14 digs for Centenary in a 1-0 week for the Cyclones.
Harper Wolf (So., Marymount): In the Saints' pair of matches last week, sophomore Harper Wolf punched 23 total kills, good for 3.29 kills per set. Adding six digs, she notched 23.5. total points on the week.
Casey Hagerstrom (Gr., Marywood): Hagerstrom led Marywood to a 1-2 week by averaging 10.67 points per set. In a four-set win over Goucher, she recorded 15 kills and two blocks for a .293 attack percentage. She had 10 kills with just one error, complementing seven kills, three total blocks and two aces in a three-set loss to Wilkes. She finished the week with a .244 hitting percentage with nine digs, two aces, and six total blocks.
Natalie Bialecki (Sr., Marymount): Senior setter Natalie Bialecki notched her 1,000th career assist on Wednesday evening at Mary Washington en route to 37 total assists across both matches for the Saints. She added 10 digs and a block on the week.
Asia Logan (Jr., Centenary): Had 16 digs, two aces and one assist in a 1-0 week for the Cyclones.
Previous Weekly Award Winners:
(9/2) - Player of the Week: Poppy Skjonnemand, Centenary; Specialty Player of the Week: Natalie Bialecki, Marymount
(9/9) - Player of the Week: Kate Etter, Gwynedd Mercy; Specialty Player of the Week: Ayanna Gaston, Gwynedd Mercy
(9/16) – Player of the Week: Melissa Eddy, Neumann; Specialty Player of the Week: Dani Smith, Neumann
(9/23) – Player of the Week: Harper Wolf, Marymount; Specialty Player of the Week: Dani Smith, Neumann
(9/30) – Player of the Week: Bria Purnell, Gwynedd Mercy; Specialty Player of the Week: Dani Smith, Neumann
(10/7) – Player of the Week: Bria Purnell, Gwynedd Mercy; Specialty Player of the Week: Ayanna Gaston, Gwynedd Mercy