Cembalisty, Kalama, and Howell Named Volleyball Weekly Awards Winners
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Taylor Cembalisty, Iona, Jr., Outside Hitter, 5-11, Carrolton, TX / Hebron
Junior right side hitter Taylor Cembalisty led the Gaels to a 3-0 week. Cembalisty averaged 3.8 kills, 2.2 digs, and 0.8 blocks per set while hitting .315. Defensively, she converted 91% of her 22 serve receptions. In MAAC play, Cembalisty's averages improved to 4.29 kills and 1.00 blocks per set while hitting .353 in the seven sets played. Cembalisty posted a season-high 19 kills in Iona's four-set win over Fairfield while hitting a stellar .390. The day prior she had 11 kills and eight digs in a three-set win over Quinnpiac. Earlier in the week she posted eight kills and 10 digs in the Gaels victory vs. St. Francis Brooklyn.
Libero of the Week
Bobbi Lin Kalama, Siena, Fr., Libero, 5-8, Waikuku, Hawaii/Kamehameha Maui
Kalama played the best volleyball of her young career as Siena won three MAAC road matches this past week, including victories at preseason favorite Fairfield and the coaches’ third choice in the preseason poll, Canisius. Kalama averaged 4.8 digs per set on the week, highlighted by a career-high 27 digs in the five-set comeback win over Canisius Sunday. The 27 digs were more than twice as many as any other player for either team had in the match. In the three-set sweep of Niagara, Kalama was the only player to reach double figures in digs, registering 16. She also led all players with 19 digs in the five-set win over Fairfield. Kalama got the job done with her serve too, recording four aces on the week and just one error.
Rookie of the Week
Haley Howell, Siena, Fr., Setter, 5-10, Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic
Howell played an instrumental role in Siena’s 3-0 MAAC week, averaging 9.8 assists, 1.7 digs and 0.5 blocks per set. Her marquee performance came in a 3-0 sweep at Niagara where she dished out 35 assists, killed two of her four attacks and tallied seven digs and two blocks. She began the week with a 43-assists effort in the 3-2 win at defending champion Fairfield. Howell also added three aces against the Stags, and served long runs in the critical third and fifth sets. In the 3-2 comeback win at Canisius Howell handed out a match-high 49 assists, while adding nine digs and two aces.