Canisius' Simmon and Lopez Acosta, and Fairfield's Rich Named MAAC Volleyball Weekly Award Winners
Player of the Week
Leah Simmons, Canisius
Jr., Abington, PA/Abington
Leah Simmons was the focal point of Canisius's offense, as the team went undefeated this weekend off of the junior’s 27 kills (.250 hitting percentage). The Pennsylvania native tallied 16 kills at a .323 hitting clip in the Griffs' home-opening win against Saint Peter's, adding two digs and two total blocks. She followed up by notching 11 kills in the Blue and Gold's sweep of Rider, also recording three digs and one total block. She finished the weekend averaging 3.86 kills per set and 4.07 points per set.
Libero of the Week
Sofia Lopez Acosta, Canisius
Sr., Mexicali, Mexico/Arizona Western College
Sofia Lopez Acosta had another strong weekend with a pair of 20-plus dig contests, helping the Golden Griffins to two conference wins. The senior had 20 digs in the Griffs' victory over Saint Peter's, also racking up five assists and two service aces. She then came out and recorded 22 digs in a sweep of Rider, also tallying one kill, two assists, two service aces and a perfect 1.000 receiving percentage. She assisted on the match-winning point in the sweep as well. In total, the Mexico native registered 42 digs, seven assists, four service aces, and one kill while averaging 6.0 digs per set.
Rookie of the Week
Alexis Rich, Fairfield
Fr., Nicholasville, KY/West Jessamine
Rich orchestrated a Fairfield offense that went 2-0 on the weekend with wins over Manhattan and Iona. The rookie setter averaged 11.28 assists per set, including a match-high 47 in the win over the Gaels. She also tallied a double-double with 13 digs against Iona. In the win against the Jaspers, Rich led a team that recorded a .261 hitting percentage with 32 assists and three kills.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38
th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.