Stephens, Litwin, and Howell Take Home Volleyball Weekly Awards
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Mackenzie Stephens, Marist, Jr., Middle Blocker, 6-2, Holland, Mich./West Ottawa
Stephens had a career weekend as Marist opened MAAC play against Manhattan and Iona, averaging 4.25 kills per set, 1.12 blocks per set and 5.00 points per set which, in looking at the national averages, would place her in the top 20 in all of Division I. In Saturday’s MAAC opener against Manhattan, Stephens at the net registering a match-high 27 kills while adding a match-high eight blocks, including three of the solo variety. She shattered her previous career high in kills and her 27 kills is tied for the third most in a single match in Marist history. She accounted for nearly one third of the Red Foxes’ point total for the entire match, contributing on 32.5 of 90 Marist points. In a three-set win over Iona on Sunday, Stephens added another seven kills, bringing her weekend total to 35, and added another block to bring her weekend point total to 40.
Libero of the Week
Emily Litwin, Canisius, Jr., Libero, 5-7, Williamsville, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy)
Litwin averaged 5.30 digs per set in three matches last week, including two road wins for Canisius. The junior libero posted her first career double-double with 23 digs and 11 assists in the four-set win at Rider. Litwin had double-digit digs in all three matches and posted a 95.6 service reception percentage on the week.
Rookie of the Week
Haley Howell, Siena, Fr., Setter, 5-10, Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic
Howell continued her development this past week, elevating her play to a new level as the league season opened. She dished out a career-best 59 assists as Siena rallied for a 3-2 win in its MAAC opener against Iona. The next day she was even better, distributing 32 assists evenly among five players in a 3-0 sweep of Manhattan. Howell killed all four of her attacks against the Jaspers and nine of her 12 swings on the week to post a .583 hitting percentage. She had her first double-double in the Iona win, registering 12 digs. Howell averaged 9.4 assists per set in the team’s three matches this week, including 11.4 assists in the two MAAC matches.