Volleyball | 9/10/2024 11:34:54 AM

NORFOLK, Va. Sept. 9, 2024 –Howard’s Rya McKinnon was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola. Delaware State's Paige Ahakuleo was named Rookie of the Week, while North Carolina Central’s Bella Dearinger earned Setter of the Week honors, respectively. Coppin State’s Mackenzie Parks was named the Defensive Player of the Week. 

McKinnon (Jr., OH, Hoover, Al.)  led the Bison in two non-conference wins against Houston Christian and Kansas City. She recorded 50 total kills, 3.85 per set, including a double-double 17 kills and 11 digs in a 3-2 victory against HCU. McKinnon added 14 kills in the win versus Kansas City and a season high 19 kills against New Mexico. 

 Ahakuleo (Fr., S, Winchester, Va.) registered 88 assists, 8.0 per set, through three matches including a season-high 47 assists in the Hornets five-set victory against UNC Charlotte. Additionally, she tallied three aces and nine digs. Ahakuleo posted double digit assist performances in all three matches, including 26 assists against Towson and 15 assists against Tennessee Tech.

Dearinger (Sr., S, Hempstead, N.Y.) totaled 111 assists at the Elon Phoenix Invitational averaging 7.93. She posted a career-high of 52 assists against Murray State, the most in the MEAC this season, while also registering a season-high 12 digs. Dearinger added 21 assists against UNC Greensboro and 38 against hosts Elon.

Parks (Fr., MH, McDonough, Ga.) totaled 14 blocks for the week, averaging 1.0 blocks per set for the Eagles. She tallied four blocks in each match at the Chick Fil-A Robinson Classic while adding two earlier in the week against American. Parks added 11 kills throughout the week including six against Robert Morris.

Other Top Performers 

TaKenya Stafford (CSU) had a season high double-double 21 kills and 15 digs against Robert Morris, to lead the MEAC in single match kills. Stafford recorded an additional double-double in a 3-0 sweep against Niagra University, with 11 kills and 11 digs.  

Sydney McCree (NSU) was one dig shy of a double-double against UNC Charlotte, with 28 assists and nine digs.

Mackenzie Searcy (NCCU) posted double digit kills in all three matches played this weekend, including 16 against Murray State, 10 against UNC Greensboro, and 11 against Elon.
 
Gabrielle Gilbert (NSU) registered 16 kills against UNC Charlotte with a .294 hitting pct.

Daniela Ferreira (MSU) averaged 10 kills and 11.6 digs per match for the week.  Recorded her first double-double with a season-best 19 kills and 16 digs against host West Georgia (9/6). Finished the weekend hitting .316 with seven kills and nine digs against UNC Asheville (9/7).

Kahea Carvalho (CSU) had a career-high 28 assists to go with eight digs against Robert Morris. She posted a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs along with three aces in a three-set sweep of Niagara.