NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 17, 2022—Howard University freshman outside hitter Rya McKinnon was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today. McKinnon was also named Rookie of the Week and Howard University senior Kayla Diaz named Setter of the Week, while Coppin State junior Geraldyn Palacios earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
McKinnon (5-11, Fr., OH, Bessemer, Ala.) averaged 5.1 kills per set and hit a combined .442 in three matches as Howard defeated American, North Carolina Central and South Carolina State to extend its winning streak to six. McKinnon opened with 15 kills and a .357 hitting percentage against American, while also recording six digs and two aces. Against the Eagles, she hit .471 and had 11 kills in two sets played, and in one set against the Bulldogs, she went error-free in recording five kills and a .714 hitting percentage.
Diaz (5-7, Sr., S, Nanuet, N.Y.) averaged 12.0 assists per set in leading a Bison offense that hit a combined .408 in three matches this past week. She opened with 39 assists against American in the middle of the week, leading Howard to a team .383 hitting percentage, and against North Carolina Central, she had 23 assists in two sets, again helping Howard hit .383 as a team. Playing one set against South Carolina State, she had 10 assists.
Palacios (6-1, Jr., MB, Medellin, Colombia) averaged 1.4 blocks per set this past weekend in wins over Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State, including eight alone against the Hornets on Sunday. She added two more in two sets played against the Hawks, giving the first-place Eagles a force at the net.
Other Top Performers
Andrea Tsvetanova (Coppin State) averaged 7.4 assists per set in wins over Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State, recording 37 assists against the Hornets and 30 against the Hawks.
Ammaarah Williams (Coppin State) had 16 kills and eight digs in a five-set win over Delaware State, while also notching 12 kills and eight digs against Maryland Eastern Shore.
Malgorzata Andersohn (Delaware State) had 29 assists and nine digs against Coppin State.
Karen Cordero (Delaware State) recorded a double-double against Coppin State, with 16 kills and 13 digs.
Jasmal Cruz (Delaware State) racked up 22 digs against Coppin State and 17 against Morgan State.
Nkemjika Ikemefuna (Maryland Eastern Shore) had 11 kills and five digs against Morgan State.
Charlize Williams (Maryland Eastern Shore) had four blocks against Morgan State and three against Coppin State.
Justyus Jackson (Morgan State) recorded three blocks each against Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore.
Jadyn Perkins (Morgan State) had seven kills and three blocks, hitting .313 against Maryland Eastern Shore.
Carla Hernandez (Norfolk State) racked up 22 kills to go along with 15 digs and two blocks against North Carolina Central.
Sydney McCree (Norfolk State) recorded 48 assists, five digs, four kills, three blocks and two aces against North Carolina Central.
Nicole Rodriguez (Norfolk State) had a career-high 29 digs against North Carolina Central.
Kamren Harper (North Carolina Central) recorded a double-double against Norfolk State with 18 kills and 10 digs, while also notching three aces and a block.
Loren Johnson (North Carolina Central) racked up 18 digs against Norfolk State.
Vanila Pulu-Suliafu (North Carolina Central) had 38 assists, 21 digs and five kills against Norfolk State.