BETHLEHEM, Pa. — American collected all five of this year's Patriot League Women’s Volleyball major awards when the League office announced its postseason honors on Monday afternoon.
American sophomore setter Deniz Dakak was named the Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player and Setter of the Year after guiding the Eagles to the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed. Dakak becomes the fourth student-athlete to claim both honors in the same season, joining American’s Monika Smidova (2014, 2015) and Colgate’s Julia Kurowski (2022).
Eagles’ sophomore Bella Marrero received Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Libero of the Year honors, becoming the third American player to earn the award (Hoakalei Dawson – 2015, Kristen Largay – 2017).
American freshman outside hitter Sophie Dufour earned the Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year award after garnering a single-season record eight Rookie of the Week honors during the regular season. Dufour is the second straight Eagle to win the award and 10th overall in program history.
After guiding the Eagles to the top seed for the first time since 2019 and the program’s 18th regular-season title, American collected the Patriot League Barry Goldberg Coaching Staff of the Year honors under third-year head coach Ahen Kim.
Ten student-athletes were named to both the All-Patriot League First and Second Teams, as American led the way with six All-League selections. Army West Point and Colgate each placed three student-athletes on the All-League teams. Bucknell and Navy earned two selections apiece, while Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Loyola Maryland each had one.
The major awards and All-Patriot League teams were selected by the nine Patriot League women's volleyball head coaches, who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2025 Patriot League Player & Setter of the Year
Deniz Dakak, American, So., Setter, Istanbul, Turkey
*Dakak finished the regular season leading the Patriot League in assists (947) and assists per set (10.52), a mark that ranks 16th in NCAA Division I.
*She also ranked tied for fifth in service aces per set (0.36) and seventh in total aces (32).
*The Istanbul, Turkey native collected the 16th Player of the Year honor in American program history, joining Zeynep Uzen (2023), Aleksandra Kazala (2016-18), Monika Smidova (2014-15), Sara Rishell (2011), Magdalena Tekiel (2010), Rubena Sukaj (2006-08), Cutrina Biddulph (2004) and Karla Kucerkova (2001-03).
*The sophomore is also the fifth different Eagle to earn Setter of the Year honors, joining Esma Sipahi (2023), Olivia Wassner (2019), Monika Smidova (2013-15) and Christina Nas (2006, 2008).
*She is the fourth student-athlete in League history to claim both major awards in the same season, joining American’s Monika Smidova (2014, 2015) and Colgate’s Julia Kurowski (2022).
2025 Patriot League Libero of the Year
Bella Marrero, American, So., Libero, Burbank, Calif./Campbell Hall
*Marrero ended the regular season ranked second in the Patriot League in digs per set (4.42) and fourth in total digs (371) to become the third Eagle to earn Patriot League Libero of the Year honors (Hoakalei Dawson – 2015, Kristen Largay – 2017).
*The Burbank, Calif. native earned Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 2 and was selected to the All-Patriot League Second Team.
2025 Patriot League Rookie of the Year
Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., Outside Hitter, Frankfort, Ky./Franklin County
*Dufour collected American’s second straight and 10th overall Rookie of the Year award after ranking second in the Patriot League in kills per set (3.83) and points per set (4.35).
*The freshman also ranks 10th in hitting percentage (.267) and service aces per set (0.32).
*The Frankfort, Ky. native tied Army West Point’s Mary Vaccaro (2011) single-season record with eight Rookie of the Week honors during the regular season.
2025 Patriot League Barry Goldberg Coaching Staff of the Year
American – Head Coach: Ahen Kim; Assistant Coaches: Maggie Catherina, Garret Geiger
*Under the direction of third-year head coach Ahen Kim, the Eagles ended the regular season on a 15-match winning streak to capture the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the 2025 Patriot League Volleyball Championship presented by Credit Union 1.
*Kim and the Eagles finished Patriot League play at 15-1 (.846), the best League-play winning percentage since 2019, when American and Colgate each went 15-1.
*In League play, the Eagles led the way in hitting percentage (.290), service aces (131), kills per set (13.49) and points per set (18.15).
*Kim was an assistant coach on Goldberg’s staff from 2012 through 2017, and the Eagles captured five Patriot League Championships, including advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2013.
2025 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Major Award Winners
Player & Setter of the Year - Deniz Dakak, American, So., Setter
Libero of the Year - Bella Marrero, American, So., Libero
Rookie of the Year - Sophie Dufour, American, Fr, Outside Hitter
Barry Goldberg Coaching Staff of the Year - American – Head Coach: Ahen Kim; Assistant Coaches: Maggie Catherina, Garrett Geiger
2025 First Team All-Patriot League
Deniz Dakak, American, So., S
Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., OH
Prinzez Zeck, American, Jr., MB
Chloe Murakami, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Jr., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
Tiana Owens, Colgate, So., OH
Maddie Rudolph, Colgate, Sr., MB
Ava Toppin, Navy, Sr., MH
2025 Second Team All-Patriot League
Bella Marrero, American, So., L
Salme Adeele Hollas, American, Jr., OH
Elise Sterling, American, So., MB
Juliette Myrick, Army West Point, Jr., S
Tijana Kostic, Bucknell, Sr., OH/OPP
Emma Sorensen, Holy Cross, Fr., OH
Emily Gouldrup, Lafayette, Sr., L
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Jr., RS
Kacy Sekunda, Loyola, Gr., S/OPP
Farrah Eike, Navy, So., OH
Note: Student-athletes are listed alphabetically by institution
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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.