BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American, Bucknell and Colgate each received one Patriot League women’s volleyball weekly award, presented by Credit Union One, when the League office announced the honors on Tuesday.
Bucknell junior middle blocker Sidney Shaffer earned Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week after totaling 49 kills on a .379 hitting percentage in four matches.
Colgate junior middle blocker Lal Akin was named Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after recording 17 blocks in a 2-1 week for the Raiders.
For the second straight week, American freshman outside hitter Sophie Dufour collected Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week honors as she led the Eagles with 42 kills on a .444 hitting percentage.
Honorable mentions went to Army West Point senior outside hitter Mackenzie Lynch, Bucknell junior libero Cameron Lloyd, Colgate junior outside hitter Milan Bayless, Lafayette sophomore outside hitter Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo, Lehigh senior middle blocker Madison McCartney and Loyola Maryland freshman libero Addie Huber.
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 Sept. 16)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| American |
0-0 |
.000 |
7-3 |
.700 |
| Army West Point |
0-0 |
.000 |
6-3 |
.667 |
| Lehigh |
0-0 |
.000 |
6-3 |
.667 |
| Colgate |
0-0 |
.000 |
4-4 |
.500 |
| Navy |
0-0 |
.000 |
4-5 |
.444 |
| Bucknell |
0-0 |
.000 |
3-6 |
.333 |
| Holy Cross |
0-0 |
.000 |
3-7 |
.300 |
| Loyola Maryland |
0-0 |
.000 |
2-7 |
.222 |
| Lafayette |
0-0 |
.000 |
2-8 |
.200 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Jr., Middle Blocker, Orange County, Calif./Villa Park
*Shaffer totaled 49 kills on a .379 hitting percentage and 10 blocks in a 2-2 week for Bucknell.
*The junior stood out at the Binghamton Invitational to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team as she collected 47 kills (3.92 per set) on a .442 hitting percentage and eight blocks.
*The Orange County, Calif. native ranks fourth in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.316).
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Lal Akin, Colgate, Jr., Middle Blocker, Istanbul, Turkey/Besiztas
*Akin was a defensive staple for Colgate in a 2-1 week as the junior finished with 17 blocks and 12 kills.
*In back-to-back wins over Syracuse, she notched 12 blocks, nine kills and one dig.
*The Istanbul, Turkey native leads the Patriot League in total blocks with 44 and ranks second in blocks per set (1.22).
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Sophie Dufour, American, Fr., Outside Hitter, Frankfort, Ky./Franklin County
*Dufour collected her second straight Rookie of the Week honor after leading American with 42 kills (4.67 per set) on a .444 hitting percentage, adding 14 digs and three aces.
*The Frankfort, Ky. native had a stellar 15 kills on a .700 hitting percentage in the Eagles’ sweep at Hampton.
*The freshman leads the Patriot League in kills (137) and kills per set (3.91), while ranking second in points (148) and points per set (4.23).
Honorable Mentions
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point. Sr., Outside Hitter, Asheville, N.C./T.C. Roberson
*Lynch led the Black Knights to a 2-1 weekend and was named to the Bryant Invitational All-Tournament Team. The senior finished with 38 kills (3.17 per set), 39 digs (3.25 per set), seven blocks and two double-doubles.
Cameron Lloyd, Bucknell, Jr., Libero, Chapel Hill, N.C./Cedar Ridge
*Lloyd earned a spot on the Binghamton Invitational All-Tournament Team after leading Bucknell with 58 digs and seven service aces. The junior ranks fourth in the Patriot League in digs (141) and fifth in digs per set (4.03).
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., Outside Hitter, San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Classic
*Bayless helped the Raiders to a 2-1 week, which included defeating Syracuse on consecutive nights. In those two matches, she totaled 32 kills, 18 digs, seven blocks and two service aces. The junior leads the Patriot League in points (156.5) and points per set (4.47), while ranking second in kills (133) and kills per set (3.80).
Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo, Lafayette, So., Outside Hitter, Houston, Texas/Bellaire
*Mbeche-Odhiambo totaled 62 kills on a .283 hitting percentage, 10 blocks and seven digs in four matches for Lafayette at the Charm City Classic.
Madison McCartney, Lehigh, Sr., Middle Blocker, Arlington, Va./Yorktown
*McCartney recorded 22 blocks (five solos, 17 assists), 14 kills, six digs and two aces in a 2-1 weekend for Lehigh. The senior totaled 11 blocks in a win over Sacred Heart and five blocks in a sweep of NJIT.
Addie Huber, Loyola Maryland, Fr. Libero, Hershey, Pa./Middletown Area
*Huber had 53 digs (4.42 per set), 14 assists and seven service aces in three matches for Loyola Maryland last weekend. The freshman ranks third in the Patriot League in digs (141) and service aces (14).
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
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
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
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.