NEC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Viktoria Fink, LIU Brooklyn
OH, Jr., Vienna, Austria/Polgarstrasse
Fink averaged 4.14 kills a set and totaled 58 kills in four matches over the weekend as the NEC preseason favorite Blackbirds finished with a 3-1 mark at the Georgia Benson Hospitality Invitational hosted by Georgia. The second team All-NEC outside hitter logged a double-double with a conference- leading 20 kills in a 3-1 win over George Mason on Saturday. Fink added 13 digs in that match and completed the weekend with a 2.29 digs per set average. The junior also led LIU in kills with 16 in a 3-1 win over Presbyterian on Friday.
NEC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Natalia Rivera, LIU Brooklyn
L., So., Cayey, Puerto Rico/Radians School
Rivera registered 4.93 digs per set over four matches last weekend as LIU Brooklyn won three-of-four matches at the Georgia Benson Hospitality Invitational in Athens, GA. She posted over 15 digs in each contest including a weekend-high of 20 in the Blackbirds' season-opening win over UNC Asheville. She also paced LIU in digs against George Mason (17) and host Georgia (16).
NEC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Erika Ward, Bryant
L., Fr., Rochester, MI/Stoney Creek
Ward averaged 6.0 digs per set in the Bulldogs three matches over the weekend at the Titan Tournament hosted by Cal State Fullerton. She led the Bulldogs in digs in each contest registering 19 against Drake, 20 in a win over UC Riverside and 21 more versus the host Titans. The freshman committed just four reception errors over 10 sets in the first weekend of games in her collegiate career.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Robert Morris freshman middle blocker Emma Granger (Dalton, OH/Dalton) was named to the Butler Bulldog Brawl All-Tournament team after averaging 3.21 kills/set (14 sets played) while hitting at a .352 clip in her first four career matches. She also tallied eight block assists.
Sacred Heart senior setter Kiki Robinson (Bakersfield, CA/Liberty) averaged 9.43 assists and 2.57 digs per set this weekend as SHU went 1-2 in the JMU Classic. Robinson had 46 assists and 19 digs in SHU’s five-set win over Gardner-Webb on Sunday.
CCSU senior defensive specialtist Lindsey Massicotte (Meriden, CT/Maloney) was named to the Stetson Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 4.75 digs per set.
Saint Francis U senior defensive specialtist Jenna Veres (Independence, OH/Padua Franciscan) averaged 5.33 digs per set at the Navy Invite. She had a team-best 24 digs in 3-0 victory over Akron on Saturday.
AROUND THE NEC
Led by NEC Player of the Week Viktoria Fink (Vienna, Austria/Polgarstrasse) and NEC Defensive Player of the Week Natalia Rivera (Cayey, Puerto Rico/Radians School), LIU Brooklyn finished its first tournament of the season with a winning record going 3-1 over the weekend at the Georgia Benson Hospitality Invitational with wins over UNC Asheville, Presbyterian and George Mason. The lone setback came to tourney host and SEC foe Georgia.