Gaston Repeats as AEC Women’s Volleyball Specialist of the Week, Brown Hits Honor Roll
Lancaster, Pa. – (10/9/2023) – Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown Del.) repeated as the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Specialist of the Week with 12.5 points (5 kills, 4 aces, 3.3 blocks), 108 assists, and 24 digs in a 2-1 week versus Saint Elizabeth University (W, 3-0; 25-12, 25-10, 25-12 on Oct. 5), Centenary University (NJ) (W, 3-2; 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 15-6 on Oct. 7), and Marymount University (L, 2-3; 14-25, 25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 15-5 on Oct. 7). Senior middle hitter
Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) also appeared on the Weekly Report as an Honor Roll mention. The AEC Player of the Week went to senior pin hitter Regan Hickey (Aston, Pa.) while additional Honor Roll mentions were enjoyed by her teammate, junior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta) and Marymount University graduate outside hitter Kaitlyn Doyle (Hernando, Miss.).
Gaston continued her impressive play with three strong matches against the Eagles, Cyclones, and Saints. She opened the week with 34 assists, two aces, three block assists, and three digs in the Griffins’ 3-0 sweep at Saint Elizabeth University. Later, she helped Gwynedd Mercy University to a 1-1 showing at a home AEC Tri-Match. Gaston totaled three kills, a season-high 42 assists, two aces, a dozen (12) digs, and two block assists in the five-set win over Centenary University. She followed it up with two kills, 32 assists, six digs, and two block assists in a five-set loss to Marymount University.
Gaston currently ranks second in the AEC for assists (390), third for assists per set (7.36), tied for seventh in aces (29), and sixth for aces per set (0.55). She has totaled 59.0 points with 18 kills, a team-high 29 aces, and 19.0 (5 solo, 14 assisted) blocks. Gaston has 390 assists (7.36/set) and 102 digs (1.92) in 53 sets (16 matches).
Brown was equally impressive over the same three-match span with 41.0 points (33 kills, 3 aces, 5.0 blocks), a pair of assists, and 10 digs. She hit .405 (33K-3E-74TA) for the week thanks her .824 (14K-0E-17TA) success rate versus the Eagles and her .410 (18K-2E-39TA) efficiency versus the Cyclones. Her 18 kills against the Cyclones was a season-high. Brown leads the AEC hitting with a .368 (120K-18E-277TA) percentage that ranks her 22
nd in the Nation.
Gwynedd Mercy University continues their AEC schedule on Wednesday, October 11, when they visit Marywood University for a 7:00 p.m. match.
