Griffins Sweep AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Awards With Purnell and Gaston Performances
Lancaster, Pa. – (10/7/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University swept the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Awards for the second time this season as fifth-year outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and junior setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) were respectively recognized as the league’s Player and Specialty Player of the Week. Purnell became the Red and Gold’s all-time kills leader while totaling 36.0 points (34 kills, 2 aces) in a 1-1 week versus Bryn Mawr College (W, 3-0; 25-15, 26-24, 25-14 on Oct. 2) and Widener University (L, 1-3; 25-20, 21-25, 19-25, 22-25 on Oct. 3). Gaston helped create the chances for Purnell and others to score with her 70 assists and 24 digs.
Purnell and Gaston were joined on the AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report by Honor Roll members Pratt Institute senior right side Natalie Dziadzio (Dearborn, Mich.), Immaculata University sophomore setter Jenna Bozzo (Wilmington, Del.), Marymount University senior libero Eliza Freeman (Woodbridge, Va.), and Neumann University senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta).
Gwynedd Mercy University (10-6) welcomed a new all-time kill leader during Wednesday’s 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-14) victory at Bryn Mawr College as Purnell surpassed
Chrissy Longbottom '06 (1,093) for the Griffins' high-perch during a 14-kill performance. The Griffins hit a season's best .248 (35K-10E-101TA), totaled nine aces, and combined for 4.0 team blocks (2 solo, 4 assisted blocks) in the victory. Purnell also added an assist, an ace, and eight digs to her historic kills.
Gwynedd Mercy University officially congratulated their new all-time kill leader prior to Thursday night’s 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 19-25, 22-25) loss to Widener University (12-6). The Griffins used the boost from the recognition to score a 25-20 win in the first set of the match. Unfortunately, the spur lost its effect in the remaining sets as the Pride evened the affair with a gradual 25-21 win in the second set, won a set of runs 25-19 in the third, and finished the Red and Gold off with some drama in the fourth set; 25-22. Purnell finished with 21 points on 20 kills and an ace. She also added two assists and 11 digs to her points.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Thursday, October 10, when they Rutgers-Camden for a 7:00 p.m. match.
