Player of the Week
Elena Giacomini, Quinnipiac
Gr., Italy, Liceo Enrico Fermi
 
Graduate student opposite Elena Giacomini exploded for the Bobcats this past week, helping lead the Bobcats to a 2-1 week. In the midweek match at Merrimack, Giacomini recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs. Over the weekend, Giacomini recorded two more double-doubles with 18 kills and 11 digs against Sacred Heart and the exploded for 31 kills and 15 digs in the win over Fairfield. Giacomini ended the weekend averaging 5.25 kills, 3.25 digs, 1.25 blocks, and 6.25 points per set. 
 
Setter of the Week
Damla Gunes, Quinnipiac
Jr., Bursa, Turkey, Sahinkaya Academy
 
Damla Gunes started all three matches for the Bobcats this past week and she helped lead Quinnipiac to a 2-1 week. Gunes totaled 128 assists, with 58 of those coming in the five-set victory over Fairfield, this past week. In 12 sets played over the week, Gunes recorded six aces, two kills, and 14 digs. Gunes averaged 10.67 assists per set this past week for Quinnipiac. 
 
Libero of the Week
Millani Villarreal, Sacred Heart
Fy., Murrieta, Calif., Vista Murrieta
 
First year libero Miliani Villarreal tallied a team-leading 54 digs (4.50/set) and 17 assists (1.42/set) in a 2-1 week for the Pioneers. She started the week with 16 digs and seven assists in four sets against Fairfield. Villarreal then helped lead the Pioneers to a pair of important MAAC wins, first tallying 23 digs and eight assists in a victory over Quinnipiac, the second-ranked team in the league. She capped her week with 15 digs in a road win over Merrimack on Sunday.
 
Rookie of the Week
Taylor Miller, Marist
Fr., Haworth, NJ, Northern Valley Demarest
 
In three matches played for the Red Foxes, Taylor Miller played a pivotal role in the team earning two victories. Miller collected 42 kills and 10 total blocks. Miller was indispensable for the Red Foxes contributing 4.36 points per set, the second highest on the team.
 
 
The 2024 MAAC Volleyball Championship is an eight-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 21-24, 2024 at UHY Center in Loudonville, NY on the campus of Siena College. The first round will take place on Thursday, November 21, followed by the second round on Friday, November 22, the semifinals on Saturday, November 23, and concluding with the championship final on Sunday, November 24. Siena will serve as host of the four-day championship for the 14th time. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit maacsports.com/vb.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 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 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist College, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart 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.