CAA Volleyball Weekly Awards – Sept. 20
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 20, 2021) – Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play is underway, and the first weekend of conference action brought a number of quality performances. Leah Daniel, Sophia Davis, Sarah Pierre, and Florencia Wolkowyski are the conference’s weekly honorees following the first weekend of CAA play.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Leah Daniel, Elon
Senior | Outside Hitter | Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville HS
Daniel led Elon to a 2-1 week and a 2-0 start in CAA play. The senior outside hitter averaged 4.82 kills per set and recorded double-digit kills in all three matches throughout the week. The reigning CAA Player of the Year started conference play in style, leading the Phoenix to a pair of four-set wins over Charleston. Daniel had a season-high 22 kills in the opening match against the Cougars and followed it with a match-high 19 kills to conclude the weekend. The back-to-back wins mark the first time ever that Elon has defeated Charleston twice in the same season. Daniel’s 53 kills throughout the week also allowed her to eclipse 1,000 kills in her career. Daniel leads the CAA with 4.18 kills per set this season.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophia Davis, James Madison
Junior | Middle Blocker | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Saint Thomas Aquinas
Davis helped James Madison begin CAA play 2-0 for the eighth straight season, with a pair of five-set victories over Delaware. Davis tallied 18 total blocks, averaging 1.80 per set, to help the Dukes hold Delaware to a .172 hitting percentage over the weekend. In the first match, Davis had nine blocks and one dig along with nine kills, hitting .375 to make her impact. In the weekend finale it was another all-around performance, recording nine blocks, four of them solo while chipping in 13 kills on a .440 attacking percentage and three service aces. The nine blocks in back-to-back matches mark a season-high for Davis, and she has now recorded more than five blocks in five straight contests.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sarah Pierre, Hofstra
Junior | Middle Blocker | Bloomfield, N.J. / Bloomfield HS
Pierre was a defensive force, averaging 2.00 blocks per set to open conference play. The junior made her biggest impact with a career-high 12 blocks in Hofstra’s upset of the Towson, ending the Tigers’ 36-match regular-season winning streak. Pierre had a solid effort in the weekend finale, tallying six blocks and seven kills in another competitive match between Hofstra and Towson. Pierre leads the CAA in total blocks (60) and blocks per set (1.50) this fall.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Florencia Wolkowyski, Hofstra
Freshman | Outside Hitter | Calahonda-Mijas, Spain / IES Virgen de Valme
Wolkowyski had the best week of her young career, averaging 3.00 kills per set and 1.00 blocks per set in a weekend split with Towson. In Hofstra’s five-set victory over Towson, the freshman contributed 12 kills and six blocks to help the Pride down the defending CAA Champions. She followed the performance tying her season-high with 15 kills and chipping in six digs and three blocks in the weekend finale. After the weekend, Wolkowyski has now recorded double-digit kills in four of her last five matches.
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