Milestone Ace Earns Purnell AEC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week Title, Gaston Gets Honor Roll
Lancaster, Pa. – (9/30/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University’s
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) reached continued to reach career milestones this week as the fifth-year outside hitter scored her 100
th ace in the Griffins’ recent 3-1 (25-6, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16 on Sept. 28) tri-match victory over Penn State Brandywine. The accomplishment and an outstanding week of play – 49.0 Points; 43 kills, 4 aces, 1 solo block, 2 block assists – earned her a third straight appearance on the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report and her first Player of the Week honor of the year. Junior setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) also earned recognition on a third straight AEC Weekly Report with a third consecutive appearance on the Honor Roll.
Opposite Purnell, Neumann University senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta) was named the AEC Women’s Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week. Gaston was joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by Pratt Institute of Technology sophomore middle hitter Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.), Immaculata University senior setter Dinah Strabinski (Garnett Valley, Pa.), Marymount University sophomore defensive specialist Ava Humphries (Charlotte, N.C.), and Neumann University freshman hitter Julia Soloman (Ridley Park, Pa.).
Gwynedd Mercy University (9-5) got revenge for a pair of losses from 2023 as they took down Cedar Crest College (4-9) by a 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20) final in Wednesday night's home match. The Griffins improved upon a 25-21 first-set win with a 25-16 victory in the second set. Following a third-set setback, 25-19, the Red and Gold recover with a 25-20 conclusion. Purnell scored a team-high 20.5 points with 18 kills, an ace, a solo block, and a block assist, while Gaston hoisted 38 assists on top of two kills and a pair of block assists. Purnell paired her points with seven digs. Gaston made nine digs as well.
Gwynedd Mercy University welcomed Penn State Brandywine (2-10) and Notre Dame of Maryland University (8-5) out of the rain for Saturday's tri-match. The Griffins opened the day with a 9-0 run and capitalized on the perch with a 25-6 win in their first set with the Nittany Lions. Despite a 26-24 setback, the Red and Gold finished off Penn State Brandywine with succeeding wins of 25-20 and 25-16; 3-1. Purnell reached 100 career aces with her second ace of the match. The neutral site affair saw the Gators defeat the Nittany Lions by a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) measure. Afterwards, the Griffins battled Notre Dame (Md.) to a similar three-set conclusion; 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-19).
Against the Nittany Lions, Purnell finished with 13 kills, two assists, three aces, a block assist, and 11 digs, while Gaston totaled three kills, 38 assists, her six aces, a solo block, and 10 digs. Versus the Gators, Purnell led with a dozen (12) kills, an assist, and five digs, while Gaston finished with 24 assists, one of three Griffin aces, and six digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Wednesday, October 2, when they visit Bryn Mawr College for a 7:00 p.m. match.
