Howell, Yamashiro, and Pethokoukis Take Home Volleyball Weekly Honors
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Haley Howell, Siena
So., S, 5-10, Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic
Howell averaged 13.2 assists, 1.7 digs and 1.1 blocks per set as Siena moved into second place in the MAAC with a pair of home wins. Siena’s setter assisted on all 37 of the team’s kill in a sweep of Saint Peter’s, and she then orchestrated the program’s top offensive performance in 61 matches in a sweep of Rider. Howell had 36 assists and five blocks against the Broncs, and Siena hit .424 for the match (its best effort since October 13, 2012 at Loyola) as she made all the right decisions. Howell began the week with a 46 assists effort (15.3 per set) in a three-set non-league loss to Hartford. She also played a key role at the net, tallying 10 blocks in Siena’s two MAAC wins. The Saints have won seven of eight MAAC matches since Howell reassumed the setting duties.
Libero of the Week
Allie Yamashiro, Manhattan
So., L, 5-4, Kapolei, Hawaii/Kamehameha
Yamashiro had a match-high 32 digs on Saturday, as the Jaspers out dug Iona 115-96 in a five-set thriller. She added seven assists and two service aces in the victory. Yamashiro raised her conference-leading total to 400 digs this season, and she also leads the MAAC with an average of 4.94 digs per set.
Rookie of the Week
Samantha Pethokoukis, Siena
Fr., MH, 6-2, Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick
Pethokoukis hit .516 (20-for-31) in three matches, and averaged 1.5 blocks and 2.5 kills per set as the Saints picked up two conference victories on the week. Pethokoukis had nine kills in 13 swings and added seven blocks in a 3-0 sweep of Saint Peter’s, playing an increased role with preseason All-MAAC pick Jacqueline Skeen unavailable. In the sweep of Rider, Pethokoukis killed five of her eight attacks and added five blocks. Pethokoukis averaged and astounding two blocks per set in Siena’s two MAAC wins this week, and killed six of nine swings in three sets against Hartford.