Spalding Player of the Week: Albany junior outside hitter Alissa Gibbs (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) closed out her season by averaging 6.5 kills and 3.5 digs per game over her last two matches, including consecutive double-doubles. She totaled 23 kills and 11 digs in the season finale against New Hampshire, and had 16 and 10 the previous day against Maine. For the season, she averaged 5.01 kills per game overall and improved that figure to 5.74 per game in America East play.
Spalding Rookie of the Week: Hartford first-year outside hitter Stephanie Volckers (Hamburg, Germany) finished her stellar first season with a strong weekend against Drexel and Towson. Against Drexel she had 23 kills, 18 digs, 2 service aces, 2 block solos and 2 block assists. In a 3-0 loss to Towson she had 13 kills, 2 block assists and a service ace. She set new school records this season averaging 5.6 kills per game and led the team with 515 kills and 272 digs on the season. Her .244 hitting percentage was the best on the team.
Spalding Setter of the Week: New Hampshire freshman setter Kerin Mackanin (Bartlett, Ill./St. Edward) continued her strong play from the setter position last week. Since taking over the starting role in midseason from the versatile Erin Ludwig, who moved to outside hitter, Mackanin has increased her assist per game to a team leading 10.16. In two matches, Mackanin picked up 100 assists and 17 digs. She had 56 assist in a 3-2 upset of then No. 1 Northeastern. In a 3-0 rout of Albany, Mackanin had 44 assists. Overall, Mackanin had 12.5 assists per game this weekend.
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