GNAC Women's Volleyball Report: Week 1

(FOR THE OPENING WEEKEND OF AUG. 30-SEPT. 1)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Kate Walker, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., MB - Oakland, Calif.) Walker hit an incredible .540 at the Emory Classic this past weekend and notched double-digit kills in a 3-1 weekend for the No. 8 nationally-ranked Wildcats. The All-Tournament Team selectionaveraged 3.57 kills and 0.79 blocks per set, tallying 18 kills in the opener against Sewanee and 10 more against defending national champion Emory. She stood tall for four blocks (one solo, three assists) against the Eagles on her way to 11 in the tournament, hitting a blistering .688 to close out the tournament versus Belhaven.

LIBERO / ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Samantha Carrigan, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Fr, DS - Plaistow, N.H., 7) Carrigan enjoyed a stellar defensive weekend for Emmanuel, averaging 6.70 digs per set over 10 sets at the WestConn Colonial Invitational. The first-year burst onto the collegiate scene with 24 digs against WCSU, the most by an Emmanuel player in a season-opener since 2011 and followed it up with 16 digs vs. PSU Berks and a season-best 27 digs in a 3-0 win over Smith. Carrigan added seven aces and three assists to round out an impressive start to her collegiate career in which she was named to the Colonial Invitational All-Tournament Team.

WEEK 1 HONOR ROLL
Naarah Cox, Colby-Sawyer (Sr, MB - Boston, Mass.) - Cox led the Chargers on both sides of the net in a 3-1 opening week. She averaged 3.29 kills per set and 1.00 block per set. She totaled 46 kills, 23 digs and 14 blocks for the week. Cox began action with a match high 15 kills and eight blocks in a 3-1 win over Hartwick. She added a team best seven kills in a tough 3-0 loss to Plymouth State. Cox then piled up a match best 16 kills to go with a pair of blocks in a 3-1 victory over Plattsburgh State. She ended the week with eight more kills and two blocks in a 3-0 triumph over Sage. Cox moved into the 8th place on Colby-Sawyer's career lists for solo blocks and block assists. 

Morgan Flynn, Colby-Sawyer (Sr, LB - Reading, Mass.) - Flynn led the Chargers with 4.00 digs per set in a 3-1 weekend to begin the season. She was named to the Best Western Plus-Ground Round Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team. In the opening match, she piled up 26 digs to lead all players and eclipse the 1000 career dig mark in a 3-1 win over Hartwick. She then picked up five digs in a 3-0 loss to Plymouth State, but rebounded with 17 in a 3-1 win over Plattsburgh State. Flynn finished the week with nine in a 3-0 win over Sage. The senior also had 14 kills with at least three in each of the four matches. 

Faith Gray-Williams, Simmons (Junior, S - Las Vegas, Nev.) - In four matches and 17 sets, the junior averaged 10.47 assists, 2.29 digs, 0.76 blocks and 0.47 aces per set for an outstanding, well-rounded effort. The setter recorded three double-doubles, including a career-high of 54 assists to go with 13 digs and three block assists in five sets vs. host Morrisville State College at the Morrisville State Tournament on August 30. Gray-Williams nearly matched her assist total in the following match vs. Geneva College with 53 in five frames and added 13 digs, three blocks and an ace. The Las Vegas native posted her third straight double-double with 38 assists and 10 digs to go with one of her four double-digit block outings with five in addition to a pair of aces in four sets vs. SUNY Poly on August 31. Gray-Williams capped the weekend with 33 assists, three digs, two aces and two blocks vs. Cedar Crest College.

Morgan Lauvray, Simmons (Junior, LB - Murrieta, Calif.) - In four matches and 17 sets, the junior averaged 4.71 digs per set to go with three total aces. The junior recorded 15 or more digs in each contest. Lauvray began the season with a career-high 28 digs in five sets at Morrisville State University on August 30. She followed the performance with 22 digs and three aces in five frames vs. Geneva College. The libero picked up 15 more digs in four sets vs. State University of New York Polytechnic Institute on August 31, before averaging 5.0 digs per set with 15 in three frames vs. Cedar Crest College.

Kayla Barbera, Suffolk (Jr., OH - Wakefield, R.I.) - Barbara was a consistent contributor in each of Suffolk's three matches at the Babson Invitational over the weekend, averaging 2.33 kps, 0.44 aces set and 3.00 dps.