Etter and Gaston Sweep AEC Weekly Women’s Volleyball Honors
Lancaster, Pa. – (9/9/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist
Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) and junior setter/right side
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) both made a return to the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report. This time, Etter was named the AEC Player of the Week and Gaston garnered the AEC Specialist of the Week award. The former totaled 44.0 points (40 kills, 3 aces, 2 block assists), 25 digs, and five assists, while the latter supplied 81 assists, 32 digs, and 8.0 points (7 kills, 1 ace) to lead the Griffins to a 2-1 week versus Penn State Abington (L, 0-3; 16-25, 18-25, 22-25 on Sept. 4), Penn State York (W, 3-1; 5-27, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 on Sept. 5), and Bryn Athyn College (W, 3-0; 25-18, 25-21, 25-19).
Etter and Gaston were joined on the AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report by Honor Roll mentions; Immaculata University senior setter Dinah Strabinski (Garnett Valley, Pa.), Pratt Institute of Technology senior middle hitter Olivia Julich (Greenville, S.C.), Marymount University senior libero Eliza Freeman (Woodbridge, Va.) and senior outside hitter Maya Harris (Charleston, W.Va.), as well as Neumann University senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta) and freshman pin hitter Melissa Eddy (Dover, Del.).
On Wednesday, September 4, Gwynedd Mercy University (2-2) continued their early-season, non-conference schedule a match at Penn State Abington (3-1). Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions returned the Griffins to campus empty handed as they completed the match in three sets; 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-22). Etter totaled a team-high 11.5 points (10 kills, 1 ace, 1 block assist), while Gaston provided team-highs in assists (23) and digs (19).
In Thursday’s home opener, Gwynedd Mercy University recovered from a 27-25 opening-set loss to defeat Penn State York (1-1) by a 3-1 (25-27, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22) final. Outside hitters, fifth-year
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) (13 kills, 5 aces, 1 block assist) and Etter (16 kills, 2 aces, 1 block assist) totaled 18.5 points apiece, while Gaston directed the Red and Gold attack with 36 assists; the trio helped the Griffins' hit .159 (48K-24E-151TA) for the match.
Gwynedd Mercy University needed only three sets to take care of Bryn Athyn College in Saturday's match as the Griffins used nine aces, seven solo blocks, and a .147 (31K-16E-102TA) hitting percentage to defeat the Lions by a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19) score. Etter headlined the offense with 14 kills, while sophomore defensive specialist
Danika Lewis (Coopersburg, Pa.) and freshman defensive specialist
Marley Robbins (Medford, N.J.) helped with three aces apiece. Gaston finished with two kills, 22 assists, an ace, and six digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to the Griffin Complex on Wednesday, September 11, when they host Albright College for a 7:00 p.m. match.
