Purnell and Gaston Continue Stay on AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report
Lancaster, Pa. – (9/23/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University fifth-year outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and junior setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) remained on the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report with Honor Roll mentions. In addition to their individual performances throughout the week, both Griffins surpassed career milestones during a 2-1 week versus Alvernia University (W, 3-2; 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13 on Sept. 19), Hood College (L, 2-3; 25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 19-25, 10-15 on Sept. 21), and Goucher College (W, 3-0; 25-22, 25-21, 25-16 on Sept. 21); the former eclipsed the 1,000 career kill plateau and the latter reached 100 career aces in the victory over the Mustangs.
Purnell and Gaston were joined on the AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll by Immaculata University freshman outside hitter Mel Mann (Glen Mills, Pa.) and senior setter Dinah Strabinski (Garnett Valley, Pa.), Neumann University freshman pin hitter Melissa Eddy (Dover, Del.) and senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta), Pratt Institute of Technology sophomore middle hitter Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.), Marywood University graduate middle hitter Casey Hagerstrom (Bethpage, N.Y.), and Marymount University senior setter Natalie Bialecki (Toledo, Ohio).
Gwynedd Mercy University (7-4) used milestone performances from Purnell and Gaston to power Thursday night's 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13) victory at Alvernia University (8-4). The Griffins opened the match with their best hitting of the night - .171 (11K-5E-35TA) - and controlled the third set before edging the Golden Wolves in a 15-13 deciding set. Purnell matched her season-high in kills with 22 on a .210 (22K-9E-62TA) hitting percentage; the total pushed her over the 1,000-kill plateau. Gaston matched her season-high in assists with 41 while scoring her 100th career ace with some opening-set marksmanship. Purnell paired her kills with an assist and 13 digs, while Gaston added three kills, 3.0 blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted), and 15 digs to her previously mentioned numbers.
Gwynedd Mercy University (7-4) split their matches at the Goucher College Tri-Match as they battled Hood College to a 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10) loss and defeated the hosting Gophers by a decisive 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16) final. Three Griffins reached double-digit points in the marathon match with the Mustangs, including Purnell who headlined the Griffin half of the box score with 17 kills, three aces, and a block assist. Against Goucher College, Purnell matched her five-set numbers versus Hood College as she paired three more aces with 17 more kills in a team-high 20.0-point effort. Gwynedd Mercy University totaled 17 aces between the two matches and hit .170 (85K-39E-271TA), while splitting 10 blocks.
Purnell recorded three assists and 19 digs in excess of her 20.5 points (17 kills, 3 aces, 1 block assist) against Hood College. Then offered Purnell an assist and 17 digs to her 20.0 points (17 kills, 3 aces) against Goucher College. Meanwhile, Gaston supplied five kills, 37 assists, two aces, two block assists, and 10 digs versus the Mustangs, before totaling two kills, 31 assists, four aces, and five digs versus the Gophers.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to the Griffin Complex on Wednesday, September 25, when they host Cedar Crest College for a 7:00 p.m. match.
