BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bucknell received two of the three Patriot League women’s volleyball weekly awards, when the League office announced the honors Tuesday. American collected the remaining honor.
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 student-athletes.
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week
Elise Sterling, American, Jr., Middle Blocker, Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandberg
*Sterling collected her second Player of the Week award this season after recording 42 kills on a .473 hitting percentage, six blocks and a pair of service aces in American’s 2-0 weekend.
*The junior produced a career-high 22 kills with a .450 hitting percentage and four blocks in a five-set win at Loyola Maryland on Wednesday.
*The Orland Park, Ill. native is third in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.356), fifth in kills per set (2.89) and in points per set (3.70).
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Katie O’Sullivan, Bucknell, Jr., Defensive Specialist/Libero, Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley
*O’Sullivan recorded 34 digs while adding 10 assists and four service aces in Bucknell’s 1-1 weekend.
*The junior ranks fourth in the Patriot League in digs per set (4.27).
*The Pleasanton, Calif. native was honored as the Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this year.
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Marion Haskell, Bucknell, Fr., Opposite Hitter, Birmingham, Ala./John Carroll Catholic
*Haskell finished with 21 kills on a .318 hitting percentage, four blocks and three digs in Bucknell’s 1-1 weekend.
*The freshman had a team-high 15 kills on a .464 clip in a sweep of Colgate, marking Bucknell’s first season sweep of the Raiders since 2006.
*The Birmingham, Ala. native collected her second Rookie of the Week award this season.
Honorable Mention
Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero, Burbank, Calif./Campbell Hall
*Marrero logged 31 digs and eight assists across American’s two wins last week.
*The junior had 19 digs and six assists in a five-set win at Loyola Maryland on Wednesday.
*The Burbank, Calif. native is fourth in the Patriot League in total digs (382) and sixth in digs per set (4.20).
Michelle Parker, Army West Point, Jr., Middle Blocker, Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River
*Parker finished with 12 kills on a .391 hitting percentage, five blocks and four digs in Army West Point’s 1-1 weekend.
*The junior ranks seventh in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.292).
Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., Libero, Fort Worth, Texas/Fort Worth Christian
*Stroud led Army West Point’s backline with 34 digs, seven assists, two service aces and a .958 reception percentage in a 1-1 weekend.
*The junior ranks second in the Patriot League in digs per set (4.43).
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Sr., Middle Blocker, Orange County, Calif./Villa Park
*Shaffer compiled 21 kills on a .409 hitting percentage, eight blocks and five digs in Bucknell’s 1-1 week.
*The senior is fifth in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.315), sixth in points per set (3.42), ninth in blocks per set (0.92) and kills per set (2.73).
Ava Schabes, Colgate, Sr., Setter, Chicago, Ill./Whitney M. Young Magnet
*Schabes registered 48 assists, 26 digs and a .895 reception percentage in Colgate’s 0-2 weekend.
*The senior posted her 1,000th career assist over two matches.
Savannah Baron, Holy Cross, So., Defensive Specialist, San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty
*Baron helped Holy Cross to a 1-1 weekend with 29 digs, nine assists and a pair of service aces.
*The sophomore recorded a match-high 14 digs with six assists in the sweep of Lafayette on Friday.
Kat Teepe, Holy Cross, Fr., Right-Side Hitter, St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s Academy
*Teepe recorded 24 kills with seven digs, two total blocks, and a pair of assists hitting .283 in Holy Cross’ 1-1 weekend.
*The freshman hit .3-8 with 12 kills in a sweep of Lafayette on Friday.
Noa Kamphuis, Lafayette, Fr., Middle Blocker, Fleringen, Netherlands
*Kamphuis had 18 kills, eight blocks and two digs to lead Lafayette to a 1-1 weekend.
*In the Leopards’ sweep of Army West Point, the freshman had eight kills and six blocks to lead the Leopards to their first Patriot League win.
Destiny McKenzie, Lafayette, Jr., Fairburn, Ga./Landmark
*McKenzie finished Lafayette’s 1-1 weekend with 33 digs, three service aces and two kills.
*In the Leopards’ sweep of Army West Point, she produced 22 digs and two aces to lead Lafayette to their first Patriot League win.
Sophia Bond, Lehigh, Jr., Libero, Olathe, Kan.
*Bond anchored Lehigh’s back row in road victories over Colgate (3-2) and Holy Cross (3-1) with 35 digs and 16 assists.
*The junior is second in the Patriot League in service aces per set (0.40) and eighth in digs per set (3.72).
Lia Henderson, Lehigh, Fy., Middle Blocker, Middletown, Del.
*Henderson tallied eight kills while hitting .429 and adding seven blocks across eight sets in Lehigh’s 2-0 weekend, which extended their win streak to 10 straight.
Ufuoma Omene, Lehigh, Sr., Right-Side Hitter, South Holland, Ill.
*Omene produced 25 kills on a .314 clip and five blocks in Lehigh’s 2-0 weekend.
*The senior recorded a match-high 18 kills on a .556 hitting percentage in the Mountain Hawks’ five-set win at Colgate.
Elsie Afful, Loyola Maryland, So., Middle Blocker, Stafford, Va./Mountain View
*Afful produced 23 kills on a .340 hitting percentage and 15 blocks in Loyola Maryland’s 1-1 weekend.
*The sophomore recorded her first collegiate double-double with 11 kills and 10 blocks in a five-set win over Navy
*The Stafford, Va. native is sixth in the Patriot League in blocks per set (1.03).
2026 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Standings (through Nov. 10)
*Clinched a berth in the Patriot League Championship
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
Player of the Week
9.1 – Elise Sterling, American, Jr., MB
9.8 – Ufuoma Omene, Lehigh, Sr., RS
9.15 – Tiana Owens, Colgate, Jr., OH
9.22 – Farrah Eike, Navy, Jr., OH
9.29 – Ellen Gundlach, Navy, So., OPP
10.6 – Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., S
10.13 – Salme Hollas, American, Sr., OH
10.20 – Emma Sorensen, Holy Cross, So., OH
10.27 – Olivia Lasee, Lehigh, Sr., MB
11.3 – Klea Tarja, Bucknell, So., OPP
11.10 – Elise Sterling, American, Jr., MB
Defensive Player of the Week
9.1 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
9.8 – Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., L
9.15 – Lacey Murphy, Holy Cross, Jr., MB
9.22 – Amara Chambers, Navy, Jr., L
9.29 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
10.6 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
10.13 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
10.20 – Katie O’Sullivan, Bucknell, Jr., L
10.27 – Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., L
11.3 – Hannah Langton, Colgate, Sr., L
11.10 – Katie O’Sullivan, Bucknell, Jr., L
Rookie of the Week
9.1 – Kat Teepe, Holy Cross, Fy., RS
9.8 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., OH
9.15 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., OH
9.22 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., OH
9.29 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., OH
10.6 – Marion Haskell, Bucknell, Fr., OPP
10.13 – Kat Teepe, Holy Cross, Fy., RS
10.20 – Drew Flanagan, Holy Cross, Fr., S
10.27 – Drew Flanagan, Holy Cross, Fr., S
11.3 – Nina Gannon, Colgate, Fy., MB
11.10 – Marion Haskell, Bucknell, Fr., OPP
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.