Volleyball | 9/22/2025 2:09:24 PM
Howard’s Rya McKinnon has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, the league announced today. Maryland Eastern Shore’s Jayda Hutchins earned Rookie of the Week honors, Howard’s Leah Reeves was recognized as Setter of the Week, and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Valaria Matias was named Defensive Player of the Week.
McKinnon (Howard, Sr., OH, Hoover, Ala.) paced the Bison offense totaling 33 kills (4.13/set), 17 digs, and four block assists across two matches. McKinnon posted a match-high 16 kills with four blocks in a sweep over High Point, before recording her 10th double-digit kill match of the season with 17 kills and 17 digs in a five-set battle against UMBC. She also added two service aces, finishing the week with 38 total points (4.75/set).
Hutchins (UMES, Fr., S, Henderson, Nev.) 82 assists (7.45/set) to go with 10 kills, five service aces, and 14 digs across three matches. The freshman posted her third 30-plus assist performance of the season, tallying a team-high 34 assists with six kills, three aces, and three digs in the victory over Ohio. Hutchins added 31 assists against Charlotte marking her fifth straight match with 20 or more assists.recorded
Reeves (Howard, Sr., S, Allen, Texas)contributed 79 assists (9.88 per set) along with four kills, five blocks, and 12 digs across two matches. The senior recorded a game-high 34 assists in the sweep of High Point before posting her second double-double of the season with 45 assists and 10 digs against UMBC, also hitting .800 with four kills in that match.
Matias (UMES, Sr., L, Ponce, Puerto Rico)
anchored the Hawks’ back line with 55 digs (5.0 per set) across three matches this past weekend. She tied her career-high with 26 digs in a five-set victory over Ohio, while adding 21 digs against Charlotte and eight digs versus Furman. Matias surpassed the 200-dig mark for the season and now sits just three digs shy of 1,000 career digs. Other Top Performers
· Cherisse Atilano (CSU) recorded 30 kills, six aces, 30 digs, and five blocks throughout the week for the Eagles.
· Miya Benson (SCSU) posted a team-high 14 digs and three aces in the sweep over Claflin.
· Ava Berry (NSU) matched her season-best with five block assists against Clemson.
· Isabelle Brown (MSU) contributed 17 assists, eight digs, two service aces, and two kills on .667 hitting in Morgan State’s match against Saint Peter’s.
· Aziah Buckner (HU) posted a double-digit dig effort (10) while adding a service ace in the sweep over High Point.
· Andrea Cintrón (CSU) tallied a career-high 28 assists with two aces against Maryland, followed by 27 assists, nine digs, and three kills in the win at George Mason.
· Kayden Cupid (CSU) registered a season-high six blocks against Rutgers, while also hitting an efficient .471 with 10 kills in a five-set battle against Maryland.
· Gabrielle Gilbert (NSU) earned Big Orange Bash All-Tournament Team honors after totaling 42 kills (3.50 per set), including 18 kills on a .319 attack percentage versus Clemson, while also contributing 22 digs and seven blocks.
· Hailey Harris (SCSU) finished the game with eight kills, three aces, and three blocks in the win over Claflin.
· Kamren Harper (NCCU) posted a team-high 13 kills against UNC Asheville, averaging 3.25 kills per set to lead the Eagles.
· Alexys James (HU) totaled 18 kills, nine digs, six blocks, and three aces on the week.
· Loren Johnson (NCCU) served up two aces and finished with a match-high 12 digs to lead the Eagles’ defensive effort at UNC Asheville.
· Karielys Melendez (UMES) recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 kills and a season-high 15 digs in the win over Ohio.
· Sydney McCree (NSU) totaled 75 assists (6.25/set) across three matches, while also contributing 23 digs, nine kills, and two blocks last week.
· Hanna Nemeth (MSU) hit .323 with 15 kills, seven digs, and two blocks against Saint Peter’s.
· Manuela Cripa Nasser (NCCU) finished with 33 assists, eight digs, and two service aces in a four-set match versus UNC Asheville.
· Allyson Rouse (NCCU) posted six kills on .286 hitting with five total blocks (three solo) against UNC Asheville.
· Tameary Wardlaw (MSU) finished with a season-best 17 digs along with six assists and a kill against Saint Peter’s.
· Jada Williams (MSU) tallied her 237th career block, moving into seventh all-time in Morgan State history, while also contributing 11 kills on .400 hitting.