Player of the Week
Yagmur Gunes Quinnipiac
So., Bursa, Turkey, Sahinkaya Academy

In a 2-0 weekend for the Bobcats, Yagmur Gunes totaled 29.5 points, 24 kills, 20 digs, five service aces and a block. In back-to-back sweeps she averaged 4.92 points, 4.00 kills, 3.33 digs and 0.83 service aces per set. She opened the weekend with 15 kills and 12 digs in a victory over Niagara. She followed that performance with nine kills, eight digs and five service aces in the sweep over Canisius.
 
Libero of the Week
Hope Matschner, Iona
Sr., Winter Springs, FL, Winter Springs
 
Senior libero Hope Matschner continued her NCAA-leading pace, averaging 7.33 digs per set in the Gaels' perfect 3-0 record last week. Matschner also successfully received 96.1% of serves faced in nine sets played. The dig average was 2.67 per set more than the No. 2 performer this week. She began the week with 28 digs (9.3/set) in a win over FDU, added 26 more vs Rider (6.5/set) and 12 vs. Saint Peter's (6.0/set) in two sets played due to Iona's 2-0 match lead. Her top reception performance came against the Broncs as she finished 37-for-38. Both the Knights and Peacocks shied away from the defensive stalwart, as she had just 13 total receptions in the five sets she played. Matschner also averaged 1.67 assists per set at the libero position and 0.56 aces. The weekly award is the fourth straight for Matschner.
 
Rookie of the Week
Ezzie Thompson, Iona
Fr., Spring Hill, FL, Springstead
 
Freshman middle blocker Ezzie Thompson continued her ascension with three big performances in the Gaels' perfect 3-0 record last week. For the week, Thompson had 31 kills and seven blocks while hitting a team-best .411 over 10 sets played. Thompson had seven kills vs. FDU to open the week, a career-best 16 vs. Rider to lead Iona in a four-set win and eight in the finale.  Against Rider she hit .481, which has been topped this season by a MAAC performer only two others this season.
 
The 2023 MAAC Volleyball Championship is a six-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 17-19, 2023 at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield University will serve as host of the three-day championship with the opening round on Friday, November 17, the semifinals on Saturday, November 18, and the championship match on Saturday, November 19. For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit maacsports.com/vb.
 
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 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Threads or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.