Purnell and Gaston Garner AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll Recognition
Lancaster, Pa. – (9/17/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University fifth-year outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and junior setter/right side
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) were the latest Griffins to make the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll. In a 3-1 week versus Albright College (W, 3-1; 25-20, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22 on Sept. 11), Rosemont College (W, 3-0; 25-16, 25-18, 25-8 on Sept. 12), Moravian University (L, 2-3; 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 12-25, 15-9 on Sept. 14), and the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College (W, 3-0; 25-13, 25-19, 25-18 on Sept. 14), Purnell totaled 61.5 points (52 kills, 8 aces, 1.5 blocks) with a .161 (52K-29E-143TA) hitting percentage, while Gaston totaled 121 assists and 18.5 points (8 kills, 8 aces, 2.5 blocks).
Neumann University swept this week’s major awards as the AEC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week award went to freshman pin hitter Melissa Eddy (Dover, Del.) and the Specialist of the Week honor went to senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta). Purnell and Gaston were joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by Centenary University (N.J.) sophomore outside hitter Poppy Skjonnemand (Southampton, U.K.), Marymount University freshman outside hitter Sabrina Schoeberlin (Florissant, Mo.) and senior setter Natalie Bialecki (Toledo, Ohio), Immaculata University senior setter Dinah Strabinski (Garnett Valley, Pa.), and Pratt Institute of Technology senior libero Emma Leavey (Wantagh. N.Y.).
Gwynedd Mercy University (5-3) scored a 25-20 win in the opening set, but after a 25-17 loss the Griffins used scores of 25-19 and 25-22 to send Albright College (4-2) home empty handed; 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22). Purnell (13.0 points; 13 kills) and sophomore outside hitter
Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) (11.0, 11 kills) combined for 24.0 points on 24 combined kills, while Gaston directed play with 36 assists and five digs. Purnell added an assist and 10 digs to her 13 kills.
Gwynedd Mercy University made short work of Rosemont College (0-4) in Thursday evening's match as season-bests in aces (13) and hitting percentage (.207; 29K-11E-87TA) earned the Griffins wins of 25-16, 25-18, and 25-8 (3-0). Etter and Purnell were impressive in the victory; the former totaled 13.0 points with eight kills and five aces, while the latter totaled 12.0 points with eight kills and four aces. Purnell also recorded an assist and three digs. Gaston supplied a kill, 22 assists, and four digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University traveled to Moravian University (5-5) to take part in their first tri-match of the season. The Griffins lost their first match of the event to the hosting Greyhounds, but recovered with a victory over the Privateers. Purnell totaled a season-high 22 kills, three aces, 13 digs, and 1.5 blocks (1 solo, 1 assisted) versus Moravian University, then finished with nine kills, an ace, and 12 digs against the SUNY Maritime College. Meanwhile, Gaston went for one kill, a season-high 41 assists, five aces, 12 digs, and 3.0 blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted), against the Greyhounds before totaling four kills, 24 assists, two aces, and 13 digs versus the Privateers.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Thursday, September 19 for a 7:00 p.m. showdown at Alvernia University.
