Player of the Week
Elena Giacomini, Quinnipiac
Gr., Monte San Giorgio, Italy, Liceo Enrico Fermi
Elena Giacomini had a solid week for the Bobcats, leading them in kills in every match of the Cherry and White Invitational in Philadelphia, PA. Giacomini started the Invitational with a 21-kill, 10-dig performance in the four-set win over Dartmouth. Giacomini followed up with 19 kills in the four-set loss to the hosts, Temple, and 23 in the five-set loss to Presbyterian. Giacomini recorded a double-double in each match on the weekend and has led the Bobcats in kills in all but one match so far this season. Giacomini averaged 4.85 kills per set, 2.77 digs per set, and 5.58 points per set on the weekend.
Libero of the Week
Carola Negron Diaz, Quinnipiac
So., San Juan, Puerto Rico, Winter Springs
Carola Negron Diaz appeared in all three matches for the Bobcats at the Cherry and White Invitational in Philadelphia, PA. Negron Diaz led the team with 49 total digs in the three matches for an average of 3.77 digs per set. Negron Diaz also recorded 14 assists, one kill, and one service ace on the weekend. The sophomore libero recorded 16 digs in the four-set win over Dartmouth, 13 digs in the loss to Temple, and 20 in the five-set loss to Presbyterian.
Setter of the Week
Damla Gunes, Quinnipiac
Sr., Bursa, Turkey, Sahinkaya Academy
Damla Gunes competed in all three matches for Quinnipiac at the Cherry and White Invitational in Philadelphia, PA last week. She recorded a team-high 135 assists over three matches. Against Dartmouth she handed out 33 assists. Versus tournament host Temple she logged 47 assists. In the invitational finale against Presbyterian she finished with 55 assists.
Rookie of the Week
Emma Francesconi, Manhattan
Fr., Tuscany, Italy, ISI Carlo Piaggia
Emma Francesconi posted a career afternoon against the University of Rhode Island Rams on Saturday, where the Italian native set a new career high with 14 kills. Francesconi recorded her first career double-double with 10 digs, while adding one solo block on the afternoon in the straight set victory inside Draddy Gymnasium.
The 2025 MAAC Volleyball Championship is a six-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 18 - November 24, 2025. The first round will be hosted by the #3 and #4 seeds. The semifinal round and championship final will be hosted by the #1 seed. The semifinals can be played between November 21-23, and the championship final can be played between November 22-24. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/vb.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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