Rider's Koval, Niagara's Hunt, Hetterscheidt & Iona's Smith Earn MAAC Volleyball Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Veronica Koval, Rider
Sr., S, Allentown, PA/Parkland
Veronica Koval claims her second MAAC Player of the Week award of the year. Koval averaged a double-double as Rider University swept a weekend of MAAC play at Iona College and Manhattan College for the first time in program history. She recorded 39 assists and 12.5 digs per match as the Broncs have now won six of their last seven matches. The senior registered 42 assists, nine digs, and three block assists against the Gaels. Koval ended the weekend with 36 assists, 14 digs, one ace, and one block assist against the Jaspers. She has nine double-doubles this season (five of which have come in conference play) and she is the only Bronc with a double-double this year.
Libero of the Week
Rylee Hunt, Niagara
Sr., L, Cypress, CA/Los Alamitos High School
Rylee Hunt earns her fifth MAAC Libero of the Week honor of the season. The senior averaged 8.0 digs per set in Niagara’s lone match last week as the Purple Eagles defeated Canisius College in four sets. Hunt had a match-high 32 digs for her fifth 30-plus dig match of the season. She had a .976 reception percentage and six assists.
Co-Rookie of the Week
Jamie Smith, Iona
Fr., S, Massapequa, NY/Massapequa
Jamie Smith is now a five-time MAAC Rookie of the Week. She averaged 2.64 kills, 1.73 digs, and 1.27 assists per set throughout 11 sets played in three matches for Iona last week. The Massapequa, NY native opened the week with eight kills, seven digs, and two assists against non-conference foe Stony Brook throughout four sets. Smith posted another eight kills against Rider in four sets to go along with eight assists, three digs, and three aces on Saturday. The freshman concluded her week with 13 kills in a three-set win against Saint Peter’s University, while also adding nine digs and four assists.
Co-Rookie of the Week
Grace Hetterscheidt, Niagara
Fr., MB, Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson High School
Grace Hetterscheidt averaged 2.5 kills per set and 1.25 blocks per set in Niagara’s win over Canisius. Hetterscheidt had 10 kills on a match-best .304 hitting percentage on her way to a career-high, team-leading 13 points and four block assists. Hetterscheidt takes home her first MAAC Rookie of the Week honor of the season.