O'Sullivan, Rudeen & Archibald Earn Final Weekly Volleyball Awards
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Megan O’Sullivan- Fairfield
Jr., MB, 6-2, Phoenix, AZ/ Xavier College Prep
Megan O’Sullivan was a force on both sides of the net as the Stags went 3-0 to claim the MAAC regular season title and top seed in the upcoming MAAC Championship. The junior co-captain averaged 3.00 kills per set on a scorching .500 hitting percentage – 33 kills and just three errors on 60 swings in 11 sets of work. O’Sullivan contributed on the defensive end with 1.55 blocks per set (17 total) and 1.00 digs per frame (11 total). She also landed a service ace to round out her average of 4.00 points per set. Guided by O’Sullivan, the Stags hit .263 for the week and limited opponents to a .143 clip. In Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Siena, which sent the Stags into first place in the MAAC, O’Sullivan hit .391 with 11 kills (11-2-23). She added five blocks, six digs and an ace. On Saturday, Fairfield claimed a share of the regular season championship with a sweep of Manhattan guided by O’Sullivan’s six blocks (two solo) and eight kills on 14 errorless swings for a .571 hitting percentage. She wrapped up the week and the Stags wrapped up sole possession of the top spot in the conference with a 3-1 win over Iona, hitting .565 with 14 kills (14-1-23),six blocks (one solo) and five digs.
Libero of the Week
Taylor Rudeen - Fairfield
Fr., LIB, 5-8, San Pedro, CA/ Bishop Montgomery
Taylor Rudeen helmed the Fairfield back row as the Stags went 3-0 to claim the MAAC regular season title and top seed in the upcoming MAAC Championship. She averaged 4.64 digs per set with eight assists (0.73/set) and two service aces (0.18/set) while guiding a defensive effort that saw Fairfield limit opponents to a .143 hitting percentage
In Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Siena, which sent the Stags into first place in the MAAC, Rudeen notched 18 digs and two assists. On Saturday, Fairfield claimed a share of the regular season championship with a sweep of Manhattan aided by 14 digs, four assists and an ace. Rudeen wrapped up the week and the Stags wrapped up sole possession of the top spot in the conference with a 3-1 win over Iona, notching 19 digs, two assists and a service ace.
Rookie of the Week
Claire Archibald – Iona
Fr., OH, 5-10, Coto De Caza, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic
Freshman OH Claire Archibald led the Gaels to a 2-1 week on the road with an excellent performance to end her rookie campaign. Archibald had three double-doubles and averaged 4.23 kills, 4.32 digs, and 4.62 points per set while hitting .273 in 13 sets played against MAAC foes. In the week’s opening win at Saint Peter’s Archibald posted 18 kills and 23 digs while hitting .235. She recorded her first collegiate 20-20 effort at Quinnipiac with 25 kills and 22 digs and hit .435 in the four-set win. Archibald’s 27 points marked the third-highest single-match effort of the season by any MAAC performer, second-highest in a four-set match and highest for a rookie. In the season finale at regular season champion Fairfield, Archibald posted 12 kills and 11 digs for her team-high 11th double-double of the year. Archibald completed a banner freshman season as she set a new Iona rookie record with 378 kills, topping former MAAC Rookie and Offensive Player Miki Hogg’s mark of 349 in 2002.