Brown Named AEC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week, Gaston Garners Honor Roll Mention
Lancaster, Pa. – (9/11/2023) – Gwynedd Mercy University senior middle hitter
Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) totaled 37 points (29 kills, 5 aces, 3 blocks) and hit an impressive .643 (29K-2E-42TA) in wins over Penn State Abington (W, 3-0; 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 on Sept. 6) and Bryn Mawr College (W, 3-1; 25-13, 25-15, 23-25, 25-13 on Sept. 7) to be named the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week. Neumann University junior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta) was named the Specialty Player of the Week, while her teammate senior hitter Lauren Garvey (Aston, Pa.), Marymount University junior libero Eliza Freeman (Woodbridge, Va.), and Centenary University (NJ) freshman middle blocker Poppy Skjonnemand (Southampton, UK) were joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown Del.). Gaston helped direct the Griffins to a 2-0 week and a .213 (79K-37E-197TA) hitting percentage with 45 assists versus the Nittany Lions and Owls.
Things looked down in the third set of this evening's home opener versus Penn State Abington (1-3) as the Nittany Lions controlled a confident 18-11 edge on the for Gwynedd Mercy University (2-2). But the spirited words and actions of senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and Brown rallied the Griffins for 10 straight points on the Gaston’s serve, 21-18, and scored the Griffins an eventual 25-22 win. The comeback earned Gwynedd Mercy University a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Penn State Abington and rewarded Head Coach Lauren Yancer '21 with the first win of a young career. Brown led the Griffins in points, scoring 17 with 13 kills on an efficient .571 (13K-1E-21TA) hitting percentage, a pair of aces, a solo block, and two block assists. Gaston added two kills, 14 assists, and eight digs to her two aces.
Gwynedd Mercy University won their second home match in as many nights as they evened their early-season record at 2-2 with a 3-1 (25-13, 25-15, 23-25, 25-13) victory over Bryn Mawr College (0-3). The Griffins showed little difficulty with the Owls through the first two sets, scoring wins of 25-13 and 25-15. In the third set, Bryn Mawr College served through a 17-17 tie and paced Gwynedd Mercy University the rest of the way in a 25-23 conclusion. Determined to end the match in four frames, the Griffins stepped it up at the net with five kills from Brown and a series of team blocks that distanced them from the Owls by an 18-8 margin. Afterwards it was an easy march to the 25-13 end.
Gwynedd Mercy University hit a solid .304 (45K-14E-102TA) in the match thanks to a ridiculous .714 (16K-1E-21TA) hitting percentage from Brown and 31 assists from Gaston. The former totaled 20.0 points with 16 kills, three aces, and two block assists. She also recorded an assist and two digs. The latter, additionally provided a kill, an ace, a block assist, and two digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Thursday, September 14, when they visit Lancaster Bible College for a 7:00 p.m. match.
