Howell, Millington & Taylor Named MAAC Volleyball Players of the Week
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Haley Howell – Siena
Jr., S, 5-10, Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic
Howell averaged 10.1 assists and 2.3 digs and in leading Siena to a sweep of its annual Western New York swing. Howell had a season-high 49 assists and rounded out a double-double with 10 digs in a key five-set win at Niagara. She posted her team-best seventh double-double of the season with 42 assists and 11 digs in a 3-1 win at Canisius Sunday. Howell also added four blocks on the week. In the Canisius match, Howell keyed an 8-1 run with her service that broke open the critical third set with the match tied 1-1. Howell did a great job getting everyone involved all weekend from her setter post as six different players reached double figures in kill, including four in the Niagara win.
Libero of the Week
Lexi Millington – Marist
Jr., LIB, 5-9, Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa
Millington averaged 5.62 digs and 0.50 aces per set as Marist defeated Canisius and Niagara, respectively, on its Western New York swing. She posted 22 digs and chipped in five assists and three service aces in a 3-1 win at Canisius on Oct. 3. In another four set win over the Purple Eagles the following day, she racked up 23 digs. Millington finished the two matches with seven assists and four service aces in addition to 45 digs after playing in all eight sets.
Rookie of the Week
Darby Taylor- Siena
Fr., OH/RS, 6-2, Thorold, ON/Eden
Taylor returned to the rotation for the first time since suffering an injury on Opening Day and played a leading role in Siena’s Western New York sweep. She averaged 3.1 kills, 0.8 digs and 0.4 blocks per set in wins over Niagara and Canisius. Taylor tied for a match-high with 15 kills in the 3-1 win at Canisius. She began the weekend with 13 kills as the Saints knocked off Niagara in five sets. Taylor emerged as one of the team’s top offensive options from the moment she entered the rotation, and delivered 28 kills in her nine sets played on the weekend. She also sealed the come-from-behind victory over the Purple Eagles, rising up for a solo block on match point as the Saints rallied for a 15-3 victory in the fifth set.