BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American, Army West Point and Navy each collected a Patriot League women’s volleyball weekly award, when the League office announced the honors Tuesday.
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
Ellen Gundlach, Navy, So., Opposite Hitter, Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy
*Gundlach finished Navy’s 2-0 weekend with 36 kills on an impressive .452 hitting percentage to go along with seven digs and one block.
*The sophomore posted a career-high 22 kills and hit .545 with six digs in the Mids’ 3-1 win over Lafayette.
*The Chicago native tallied a team-high 15 kills and hit .345 in a four-set victory over Bucknell.
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero, Burbank, Calif./Campbell Hall
*Marrero logged 47 digs (5.88 per set), 12 assists and five service aces in American’s 2-0 weekend.
*The junior racked up a career-high 29 digs in the Eagles’ five-set win over Lehigh.
*The Burbank, Calif. native is third in the Patriot League in digs (217) and digs per set (4.34).
*Marrero logged her second Defensive Player of the Week award this season and third of her career.
Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., Outside Hitter, New Braunfels, Texas/Canyon
*Lightsey collected her fourth straight Rookie of the Week award after leading Army West Point to a 2-0 weekend with 28 kills, 29 digs, three aces, two blocks and a .939 reception percentage.
*The freshman notched her first career double-doubles with 11 kills and 12 digs in a sweep of Colgate, before posting career-highs of 17 kills and 17 digs in a four-set win at Holy Cross.
*The New Braunfels, Texas native is seventh in the Patriot League in points per set (3.26) and kills per set (2.76).
Honorable Mention
Salme Hollas, American, Sr., Outside Hitter, Tartu, Estonia/Hugo Treffneri Gümnaasium
*Hollas led American to a 2-0 weekend with 33 kills (4.13 per set), 18 digs (2.25 per set) and two aces.
*The senior recorded 17 kills in a five-set win against Lehigh, before recording a double-double versus Lafayette with 16 kills and 11 digs.
*The Estonia native ranks fifth in the Patriot League in both points per set (3.54) and kills per set (2.96).
Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., Libero, Fort Worth, Texas/Fort Worth Christian
*Stroud led Army West Point’s defense in a 2-0 weekend, finishing with 38 digs (5.43 per set), seven assists, three aces and a .957 reception percentage.
*The junior produced a season-high 27 digs in a four-set win at Holy Cross.
*The Fort Worth, Texas native is fifth in the Patriot League in digs per set (4.00).
Hannah Langton, Colgate, Jr., Libero, Kingston, Ill./Genoa-Kingston
*Langton totaled 49 digs, seven assists and five service aces in Colgate’s 1-1 weekend, which included a career-high 29 digs in a four-set win at Holy Cross.
*The junior leads the Patriot League in digs per set (4.67) and ranks second in total digs (229).
Noa Kamphuis, Lafayette, Fr., Middle Blocker, Fleringen, Netherlands/Canisius Almelo
*Kamphius registered 21 kills on a .500 hitting percentage and eight block assists in Lafayette’s 0-2 weekend.
*The Netherlands native leads the Patriot League in total blocks (65), is tied for second in blocks per set (1.23) and is ninth in hitting percentage (.287).
Elise Afful, Loyola Maryland, So., Middle Blocker, Stafford, Va./Mountain View
*Affull totaled 18 kills on a .343 hitting percentage, 11 total blocks and three aces in Loyola Maryland’s 2-0 weekend with victories over Bucknell (3-0) and Lehigh (3-2).
*The junior had 12 kills, hitting .417, and a career-high eight blocks in the Greyhounds’ five-set win over the Mountain Hawks.
*The Stafford, Va. native is eighth in the Patriot League in total blocks (35) and ninth in blocks per set (0.90).
Morgan Crawford, Loyola Maryland, Sr., Outside Hitter, Richmond, Va./Atlee
*Crawford led Loyola Maryland to a 2-0 weekend with wins over Bucknell (3-0) and Lehigh (3-2) as she totaled 25 kills, 29 digs and five blocks.
*The senior recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs, hitting .313, in a sweep of the Bison.
Sydnee Peters, Loyola Maryland, Fr., Opposite Hitter, Ellicott City, Md./Centennial
*Peters totaled 17 kills and five total blocks in Loyola Maryland’s 2-0 weekend that featured wins over Bucknell (3-0) and Lehigh (3-2).
*The freshman recorded a career-high nine kills and five blocks in a five-set victory over the Mountain Hawks.
2026 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Standings (through Sept. 29)
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
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
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
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.