Purnell and Gaston Perform for AEC Weekly Honor Roll Recognition
Lancaster, Pa. – (10/23/2023) – Leading Gwynedd Mercy University during a 1-1 week of competition versus Widener University (L, 0-3; 15-25, 16-25, 11-25 on Oct. 19) and Immaculata University (W, 3-0; 25-20, 25-20, 25-9 on Oct. 21), senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and sophomore setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) were both recognized on the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll. The Griffin duo was joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by Marywood University junior setter Mikayla Meek (Cochranville, Pa.), while the AEC Women’s Volleyball Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors respectively went to Marymount University graduate outside hitter Kaitlyn Doyle (Hernando, Miss.) and graduate setter Alexis Franklin (Woodbridge, Va.).
Gwynedd Mercy University (9-10, 3-1) traveled to Widener University (14-7) for Thursday evening's non-conference match. Despite a dozen (12) kills from Purnell and 23 assists from Gaston, the Pride got the best of the Griffins in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-11) final. Gwynedd Mercy University hit .138 (9K-5E-29TA) in the first set and .129 (10K-6E-31TA) in the second set, before having their struggles in a .000 (6K-6E-27TA) third set. Purnell added for digs to her kills, while – in addition to her assists - Gaston made four digs and landed one of three Griffin aces.
Gwynedd Mercy University grabbed another AEC victory with Saturday’s 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-9) triumph over Immaculata University (12-10, 0-4). The Griffins made their move midway through the first set and recovered from an early Mighty Mac lead to win the second set; in both cases Gwynedd Mercy University won by a score of 25-20. The third set was less competitive as a 9-1 Red and Gold start propelled the Griffins to a 25-9 clincher. Purnell (13.5 points; 13 kills, 1 block assist) and middle hitter
Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) (11.0 points; 7 kills, 2 aces, 1 solo block, 2 block assists) combined for 24.5 points and respectively moved into fourth (788 kills) and sixth (625) place on the all-time kills list. Purnell added five digs to her scoring efforts. She scored 13 of her points with kills and did so efficiently with a .344 (13K-2E-32TA) hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Gaston was a major contributor as well with a kill, 26 assists, a block assist, five digs, and six of the Griffins' dozen (12) aces.
Gwynedd Mercy University breaks from AEC play to host Rutgers-Camden for a 6:00 p.m. Side-Out Foundation Dig Pink match on Wednesday, October 25.
