Albany Takes Over 1st Place in #AEVB Standings, Week #9 Awards Announced
BOSTON – The second half of the 2017 #AEVB season began this weekend and Albany took over first place in the conference standings at 5-1 with wins over Binghamton and UMBC. New Hampshire and UMBC also picked up wins and are tied for second place at 5-2. Binghamton and Stony Brook follow tied four fourth at 3-3 with Hartford at 2-5 and UMass Lowell at 0-7. The top for teams will qualify for the 2017 America East Volleyball Championship, which will be played at the No. 1 seed.
The majority of #AEVB conference matches will appear AmericaEast.TV, the place to watch free live content on any device, including the network's Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Android TV OTT channels. A pair of UNH league contests will air on ESPN3, home to over 30 America East school-produced events this fall. Full #AEVB Schedule/Results
Here are the conference's week nine award winners:
Player of the Week
Kennedi Smith, New Hampshire – So., Outside Hitter, The Woodlands, Texas
- Had 12 kills, nine digs, two blocks in a 3-0 win over UMass Lowell Friday.
- Hit a league-best .611 in the win.
- This is Smith’s second #AEVB Player of the Week of the season and her career (10/10).
Setter of the Week
Kelly Cameron, Albany – So., Setter, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Averaged 11.9 assists, 2.6 digs and .9 blocks per set in a 2-0 week for Albany.
- Albany hit .213 for the week.
- This is Cameron’s third-straight #AEVB Setter of the Week honor (10/17, 10/10) and third of her career.
Defensive Specialist of the Week
Nicole Otero, Albany – Jr., Libero, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Picked up her 3rd straight honor after contributing 6.1 digs per set in wins over Binghamton and UMBC, which vaulted Albany into 1st place in #AEVB standings.
- This is the Otero’s third-straight #AEVB Defensive Specialist of the Week award of the season (10/17, 10/10) and 11th of her career.
Rookie of the Week
Tatiana Tiangco, Albany – Fr., Outside Hitter, Scarsdale, N.Y.
- Led Albany with 13 kills in each of its road wins at Binghamton and UMBC last week.
- Averaged 3.7 kills per set (3rd in league) and hit .295 (7th).
- Hit .306, the nine-best mark in the league last week.
- This is Tiangco’s third career #AEVB Rookie of the Week award (10/17, 10/3).
Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 29 - Player of the Week: Akubata Okenwa, Albany; Setter of the Week: Claudia Lopez, UMBC; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Kristin Watson, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Emma Patlovich, New Hampshire
Sept. 6 - Player of the Week: McKyla Brooks, Stony Brook; Setter of the Week: Sarah Ngo, Binghamton; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Lindsey Visvardis, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Samantha Gioiosa, Binghamton
Sept. 12 - Player of the Week: Lauren Mortier, UMBC; Setter of the Week: Krytsia Negron, UMBC; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Logan Welti, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Carmen Freeman, UMBC
Sept. 19 - Player of the Week: Gabri Olhava, New Hampshire; Setter of the Week: LeAnne Sakowicz, Stony Brook; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Kiani Kerstetter, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Carmen Freeman, UMBC
Sept. 26 - Player of the Week: Cydney Bowman, Stony Brook; Setter of the Week: Krytsia Negron, UMBC; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Kristin Watson, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Carmen Freeman, UMBC
Oct. 3 - Player of the Week: Gaby Alicea, Binghamton; Setter of the Week: LeAnne Sakowicz, Stony Brook; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Kiani Kerstetter, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Tatiana Tiangco, Albany
Oct. 10 - Player of the Week: Kennedi Smith, New Hampshire; Setter of the Week: Kelly Cameron, Albany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Nicole Otero, Albany; Co-Rookies of the Week: Abby Nash, Hartford & Carmen Freeman, UMBC
Oct. 17 – Co-Players of the Week: Gaby Alicea, Binghamton & Paola Rojas, UMBC; Setter of the Week: Kelly Cameron, Albany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Nicole Otero, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Tatiana Tiangco, Albany
Oct. 24 - Player of the Week: Kennedi Smith, New Hampshire; Setter of the Week: Kelly Cameron, Albany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Nicole Otero, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Tatiana Tiangco, Albany
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