GNAC Women's Volleyball Report: Week 8

( FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 14-20 )

	PLAYER OF THE WEEK Jess Whyte, Rivier (Sr, MH - Plymouth, Mass.) Whyte was simply electric all week leading the Raiders to a 3-0 GNAC record with a team high 3.86 kills per set average on an impressive .667 hitting percentage. The senior middle hitter set the tone early and often making just 3 hitting errors on 36 attempts allowing Rivier to jump out to 2-0 leads in all 3 matches on the week. She also got the job done on the defensive end as well averaging .57 blocks/set in the 3 matches. Whyte capped off her week with a 13 kill / .611 hitting percentage performance in the 3-0 win over Norwich.
	LIBERO OF THE WEEK Morgan Flynn, Colby-Sawyer (Sr, LB - Reading, Mass.) Flynn led the Chargers defense with 4.33 digs per set in a 2-1 week. The senior picked up 13 digs in a 3-1 loss at a tough Rivier squad. She finished with a pair of fine performances in two wins on Saturday. Flynn had 11 digs in a 3-0 win at Western New England and then posted a season-high 28 digs in a 3-2 win over Westfield State. She added five aces on the week. Flynn moved into fourth place in all-time digs with 1400.
	ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Sarah Farnum, Norwich (Fr., S - North Andover, Mass.) Farnum was a central figure in the Cadets' success this week, helping the team to a 2-1 record. The freshman setter averaged 8.64 assists per set while directing the attack and added 1.45 digs per set on defense. Farnum was at her best in the team's crucial come-from-behind victory over Lasell on Saturday. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Cadets managed three-straight set victories with Farnum punctuating the win with a kill for the match point. She topped her career best with 43 assists in that same match. Farnum added 31 assists in a sweep of New England College and 21 in a loss to Rivier.

WEEK 8 HONOR ROLL

Jaiden Williams, Albertus Magnus (So., S - Orange, Conn.) - Williams filled up the stat sheet in a trio of matches last week, recording 73 assists (7.30 per set), 43 digs, three blocks and three service aces. The highlight of her week came in a 3-1 victory over Saint Joseph's (Me.) on Saturday, when she tallied career highs in assists (51) and digs (29) for her ninth double-double of 2019. Williams' outstanding play guided the Falcons end an 11-match losing streak to the Monks that dated back to 2007.

Sam Mohammed, Colby-Sawyer (So, OH - Killingworth, Conn.) - Mohammed led the Colby-Sawyer offense with 3.08 kills per set on .257 hitting in a 2-1 week. She added 2.25 digs per set. The sophomore began the week with a team best nine kills on .280 hitting in a tough 3-1 loss at Rivier. Mohammed then led all players with 13 kills on .400 hitting with seven digs and three aces in a 3-0 triumph at Western New England. She ended the week with a double-double of 15 kills and 18 digs in the team's 3-2 win over Westfield State. 

Kate Walker, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., MB - Oakland, Calif.) - Walker guided No. 18 Johnson & Wales to a 2-1 week, which included a stellar performance in a 3-0 shutout over over non-conference Trinity (Conn.) College early Friday evening. Against the Bantams, Walker notched 11 kills on 18 attempts with zero attack errors to amass a .611 attack percentage, while also tallying three block assists. The northern California native closed out the week, tallying eight kills on 18 attempts against No. 14 Juniata on Saturday morning. Early in the week, Walked helped JWU remain perfect in conference play with a 3-0 win over Albertus Magnus nothcing four kills on seven attempts for a .571 attack percentage. 

Kiana Perez Diaz, Lasell (So., OH - Juncos, Puerto Rico) - Perez Diaz averaged 4.00 kills (with a .223 attack percentage) and 3.85 digs per set with a pair of double-doubles in a 1-2 week for the Lasers. She registered 24 kills and 23 digs in Wednesday?s win over the University of Saint Joseph, and recorded 20 kills, four aces and 18 digs in a loss to Norwich University. She also had eight kills and nine digs in a loss to Rivier University.

Brianna Dawson, Norwich (Sr., DS - Katonah, N.Y.) - Dawson's efforts helped pave the way to Norwich's 2-1 record this week. The senior defensive specialist averaged 4.18 digs per set, including 4.00 in conference action. She was a key figure in the team's ability to transition an initial 2-0 deficit against Lasell into a 3-2 come-from-behind victory as she recorded 19 digs. Dawson posted 14 digs in a sweep of New England College and 13 in a loss to Rivier.

Katryna Veasey, Regis (Mass.) (Sr., OH - Quincy, Mass.) - Veasey led the Pride offensively throughout the week. First, in Wednesday's GNAC win over Saint Joseph's College, she notched a double-double with 17 kills and 15 digs, plus she hit .306 during the match, just the third time this season she has hit over .300 in a match. She also picked up two solo blocks against the Monks. In a competitive four-set match against Wentworth Saturday, Veasey notched her 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 15 kills and 10 digs along with four service aces and three block assists. In the Pride's victory over Southern Maine, Veasey contributed 11 kills and six digs. 

Sydney Iannantuono, Simmons (First Year, OH - East Lyme, Conn.) - In seven sets over three matches, the first year averaged 3.14 kills on a .288 hitting percentage to go with 1.57 digs per set. The rookie was limited to just one set vs. Anna Maria College with an injury, but bounced back to put down 13 kills in three sets on a .300 hitting mark and added six digs at Emerson College on October 17. The outside hitter capped the week with nine kills and hit .333 in addition to picking up five digs and a pair of block assists vs. Emmanuel College on October 19. 

Morgan Weeg, Simmons (Junior, OH - Goodyear, Ariz.) - The junior averaged 4.67 kills and 5.1 points per set, while hitting .372 in nine sets over three matches to go with 1.89 digs, three total aces and a block assist. The outside hitter put down at least 12 kills in every three-set match the Sharks played and hit at least .282 in every contest. Weeg began the week by hitting .579 and spiking for 14 kills to go with three aces and six digs in three sets vs. Anna Maria College on October 16. She came back the next day to swing for 16 kills in three sets at Emerson College and added six digs. The Arizona native capped the week with 12 kills, five digs and a block assist vs. Emmanuel College on October 19.

Hannah Fabiano, Suffolk (Jr., OH - Litchfield, N.H.) - Averaged 3.00 kills and 2.75 digs per set in a 1-1 week.

Dakhensey Marcellus, Suffolk (Jr., L - Brockton, Mass.) - Averaged 4.36 digs per set in a 1-1 week.