BOSTON - Conference play began in America East volleyball last week as teams begin to battle to finish in the top-four and land a spot in the America East tournament. Reigning champion, New Hampshire, swept Hartford to begin the year 1-0. Stony Brook also earned a win with a sweep over UMBC, and Albany topped SUNY rival Binghamton in a five-set thriller. Here are the week five award winners:
Player of the Week
Laini Leindecker, Albany, Jr. OH, New Philadelphia, Ohio
- Led Albany to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Binghamton in the team's conference opener, notching 15 kills and a season-high 22 digs.
- Was one of only two players in the conference last week to rank in the top-six of both kills per set (3.00, 6th) and digs per set (4.40, 3rd)
- Had a perfect receiving percentage in the back row (20-for-20)
- It was Leindecker's sixth double-double of the season.
Setter of the Week
Morgan Kath, Stony Brook, Fr., Setter, Muskego, Wis.
- Helped Stony Brook to a 2-0 week with wins over Fordham and a sweep of UMBC in the team's conference opener.
- Led the conference with 11.00 assists per game and helped the Seawolves lead the conference as a team with a .289 hitting percentage.
- Notched 34 assists and six digs vs. Fordham and 21 assists and three digs vs. UMBC.
Rookie of the Week
McKyla Brooks, Stony Brook, Fr., Middle Hitter, Blasdell, N.Y.
- Led Stony Brook to a 2-0 week with wins over Fordham and UMBC, averaging 3.00 kills per set and 0.50 blocks per set.
- Led the conference with a .500 hitting percentage.
- Notched nine kills and a .583 hitting percentage in a win over Fordham.
- Posted nine kills and two blocks with a .429 hitting percentage in a sweep of UMBC.
Defensive Specialist of the Week
Nicole Otero, Albany, Fr. L, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Led the conference with 5.40 digs per set while helping Albany to a five-set win over Binghamton.
- Helped the Great Danes hold the Bearcats to a .078 hitting percentage, the second best in the conference last week.
- Had a perfect serving percentage in the match.
- Made just one reception error, finishing 24-of-25.
Notes
- Albany junior middle blocker Amanda Dolan moved into 7th in Great Dane history with 253 total blocks.
- UAlbany earned its first win of the season after being down two sets.
- Binghamton's Gabby Alicea notched 16 kills and 19 digs in the Bearcats' loss to Albany.
- New Hampshire had a season-best 14 service aces in the team's win over Hartford.
- The Wildcats have won 10-straight America East regular-season matches and 12-straight overall including last year's America East tournament.
Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 31 - Player & Rookie of the Week: Maddie Schneider, UMBC; Setter of the Week: Morgan Kath, Stony Brook; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Bailey Walker, Binghamton
Sept. 8 - Player of the Week: Tori Forrest, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: McKyla Brooks, Stony Brook; Setter of the Week: Mikala McCauley, Albany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Madison Lightfoot, New Hampshire
Sept. 14 - Player of the Week: Laini Leindecker, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Makenzie Morgen, UMBC; Setter of the Week: Mikala McCauley, Albany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Bailey Walker, Binghamton
Sept. 21 - Player of the Week: Tori Forrest, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Morgan Kath, Stony Brook; Setter of the Week: Keelin Severtson, New Hampshire; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Nicole Otero, Albany
Sept. 28 - Player of the Week: Laini Leindecker, Albany; Rookie of the Week: McKyla Brooks, Stony Brook; Setter of the Week: Morgan Kath, Stony Brook; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Nicole Otero, Albany