NORFOLK, Va. - (October 23, 2023) - Norfolk State’s Gabrielle Gilbert was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola. Coppin State’s Coco Figueroa was named Rookie of the Week, while Howard’s sophomore Claire Simpson earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively. Norfolk State’s Sydney McCree was named Setter of the Week.
Gilbert (Fr., OH, Indianapolis, Ind.) tied her season best with 22 kills in the four-set victory over North Carolina Central while hitting .400% in the match. In the three-set win over S.C. State, she hit for .522% with 15 kills on 23 attempts with only three errors. Gilbert averaged 5.28 kills per set totaling 37 for the weekend and hit .444%. Additionally, she collected two assists, two service aces, four blocks, and 13 digs.
Figueroa (Fr., L, Bayamon, P.R.) recorded 11 digs while making her first career start at libero in the five-set win over Delaware State. She added four digs in the sweep at Maryland Eastern Shore.
Simpson (So., L, Plainfield, Ill.) averaged 3.78 digs per set in the victories over Morgan State (Oct. 18) and North Carolina Central (Oct. 22). Tallied 12 digs in the road win against the Lady Bears in Washington, D.C. and racked up 21 digs and three service aces in the road victory against N.C. Central.
McCree (So., S, Durham, N.C.) recorded 10.3 assists, 1.9 digs, 1.0 service aces, and 0.9 kills per set this weekend in wins over North Carolina Central and South Carolina State. She tallied 41 assists in four sets against N.C. Central with seven digs, six kills, and three service aces. McCree racked up 31 assists, six digs, and four service aces against S.C. State in three sets.
Other Top Performers
Grace Smith (Norfolk State) racked up seven blocks and two digs across the weekend in wins over NCCU and SCSU. She recorded five blocks against N.C. Central
Ashley Roman (Coppin State) had 20 digs in a 5-set victory over Delaware State despite sitting out the 1st set. Averaged 5.0 digs per set despite a fifth set being played to just 15. DSU hit just .117 over the last four sets after hitting .292 in the first. Recorded 13 digs in a sweep at UMES.
Soleil Cottin (Maryland Eastern Shore) tallied a career high six blocks in a five-set win over Morgan State on Friday. She led UMES with four blocks on Sunday against Coppin State.
Rya McKinnon (Howard) Averaged 4.0 kills per set in the victories over Morgan State (Oct. 18) and North Carolina Central (Oct. 22). Had 12 kills and five digs in the road win against the Lady Bears. Produced a double-double (24 kills & 10 digs) in the road victory at the Eagles.
Hope Casel (Coppin State) tallied a career high 18 kills while hitting .300 in five-set win over DSU after Coppin dropped first two sets. Recorded 13 kills while swinging .417 on 24 attacks over the final three sets nine kills on .375 swinging in sweep at UMES.
Emmie Modlin (North Carolina Central) led NCCU with 20 kills on the week for an average of .222 kills per set with a .273 hitting percentage. Tallied a double-double in a five-set match against Howard with 12 kills and 10 digs and finished with 17.5 points.
Nkemjika Ikemefuna (Maryland Eastern Shore) led the Hawks with a career-high 17 kills in a five-set win at Morgan State on Friday. She also led UMES offensively on Sunday with nine kills against Coppin State.
Kayla Diaz (Howard) averaged 8.7 assists per set in the wins at Morgan State (Oct. 18) and North Carolina Central (Oct. 22). Had 30 assists and a pair of service aces in the road victory at Lady Bears. Produced 48 assists, five digs and three service aces in the road win at the Eagles.
Andrea Tsvetanova (Coppin State) split time as setter after an injury caused her to fill other roles on the team. Recorded 48 assists with season-high 17 digs and 6 aces in Coppin's comeback 5-set win over DSU. 27 assists with 6 more aces and 6 digs in sweep at UMES.