BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy received two of the three Patriot League women’s volleyball weekly awards, presented by Credit Union One, when the League office announced the honors on Tuesday. Army West Point collected the remaining weekly honor.
For the second straight week, Navy senior middle blocker Ava Toppin collected Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week recognition after she recorded 11 kills and eight blocks in the Mids’ victory.
Mids’ freshman outside hitter Caroline Buffum received Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week honors following a career-high 16 kills on a .560 hitting percentage in Navy’s four-set win at Bucknell.
For the first time this season and third time in her career, Army West Point senior outside hitter Mackenzie Lynch was named Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week after recording 22 kills on a .410 hitting percentage in the Black Knights’ win at Loyola Maryland.
Honorable mentions went to American freshman outside hitter Sophie Dufour, Army West Point freshman middle blocker Corrine Blackburn, Bucknell senior opposite hitter Tijana Kostic, Colgate junior outside hitter Milan Bayless and Lehigh senior middle blocker Madison McCartney.
The Patriot League women’s volleyball players of the week are selected in a vote by League head coaches, who are not eligible to vote for their own student-athletes.
2025 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Standings (through Oct. 21)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| Colgate |
9-0 |
1.000 |
14-6 |
.700 |
| American |
8-1 |
.889 |
15-4 |
.789 |
| Army West Point |
7-2 |
.778 |
13-5 |
.722 |
| Navy |
4-5 |
.444 |
8-10 |
.444 |
| Bucknell |
4-5 |
.444 |
7-11 |
.389 |
| Lehigh |
3-6 |
.333 |
9-9 |
.500 |
| Lafayette |
2-6 |
.250 |
4-14 |
.222 |
| Loyola Maryland |
2-7 |
.222 |
4-14 |
.222 |
| Holy Cross |
1-8 |
.111 |
6-18 |
.250 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Sr., Outside Hitter, Asheville, N.C./T.C. Roberson
*Lynch led Army West Point to a 3-1 win at Loyola Maryland on Saturday as the senior totaled a season-high 22 kills on a .410 hitting percentage. She added nine digs, two assists, and a block.
*The Asheville, N.C. native ranks third in the Patriot League in points (272.5), tied for third in kills (240), and eighth in digs per set (2.97).
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., Middle Blocker, Carolina Beach, N.C./Green Level
*Toppin received her second straight Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting 11 kills on a .500 hitting percentage, eight blocks and two digs in Navy’s four-set win at Bucknell on Saturday.
*The senior ranks second in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.356) and blocks per set (1.10).
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Caroline Buffum, Navy, Fr., Outside Hitter, Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook
*Buffum led Navy to a 3-1 win at Bucknell on Saturday as the freshman recorded 16 kills on a .560 hitting percentage, two digs and two blocks across three sets.
*The freshman ranks second on the team in kills (121) and third in points (130.0).
Honorable Mentions
Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., Outside Hitter, Frankfort, Ky./Franklin County
*Dufour, the reigning Rookie of the Week, led American to a sweep at Holy Cross on Saturday with 12 kills on a .409 hitting percentage, six digs, three blocks, and two service aces.
*Among Patriot League rankings, the freshman is second in points per set (4.45), second in kills per set (3.89), sixth in service aces per set (0.35), and eighth in hitting percentage (.286).
Corrine Blackburn, Army West Point, Fr., Middle Blocker, Alexandria, Ky./St. Henry District
*Blackburn led Army West Point at the net in a four-set win at Loyola Maryland, as the freshman finished with seven kills on a .600 hitting percentage and a match-high three blocks.
Tijana Kostic, Bucknell, Sr., Opposite Hitter, Burr Ridge, Ill./Lyons Township
*Kostic recorded her ninth double-double of the season in Bucknell’s four-set loss to Navy, as the senior had 17 kills and 14 digs while hitting .342.
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., Outside Hitter, San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic
*Bayless helped Colgate to a 1-1 week and a 9-0 mark in Patriot League play, as the junior totaled 35 kills on a .250 hitting percentage, 17 digs, four blocks and three service aces.
*The San Diego, Calif. native leads the Patriot League in kills (309), kills per set (4.07), points (359) and points per set (4.72).
Madison McCartney, Lehigh, Sr., Middle Blocker, Arlington, Va./Yorktown
*McCartney finished with eight blocks and four service aces in Lehigh’s five-set loss at Colgate on Saturday. The senior leads the Patriot League in blocks (70) and blocks per set (1.29).
Player of the Week
9.2 – Salme Adeele Hollas, American, So., OH
9.9 – Alysia Fingall, Lehigh, Jr., OH
9.16 – Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Jr., MB
9.23 – Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
9.30 – Chloe Murakami, Army West Point, Sr., OH
10.7 – Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
10.14 – Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., MB
10.21 – Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Defensive Player of the Week
9.2 – Bella Marrero, American, So., L
9.9 – Sophia Bond, Lehigh, So., DS/L
9.16 – Lal Akin, Colgate, Jr., MB
9.23 – Cameron Lloyd, Bucknell, Jr., L
9.30 – Sophia Bond, Lehigh, So., DS/L
10.7 – Maddie Rudolph, Colgate, Sr., MB
10.14 – Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., MB
10.21 – Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., MB
Rookie of the Week
9.2 – Ellen Gundlach, Navy, Fr. MB
9.9 – Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
9.16 – Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
9.23 – Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
9.30 – Emma Sorensen, Holy Cross, Fr., OH
10.7 – Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
10.14 – Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
10.21 – Carolina Buffum, Navy, Fr., OH
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.