Purnell and Gaston Remain on AEC Weekly Report with Honor Roll Recognition
Lancaster, Pa. – (10/14/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University fifth-year outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) and junior setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) extended their stay on the
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women’s Volleyball Weekly Report with Honor Roll recognition. Purnell totaled 42.0 (34 kills, 7 aces, 2 block assists), two assists, and 22 digs, while Gaston recorded nine points (3 kills, 4 aces, 4 block assists), 84 assists, and 15 digs in the Griffins’ 1-1 week versus Rutgers-Camden (W, 3-2; 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3) and Neumann University (L, 1-3; 20-25, 15-25, 25-18, 19-25).
Purnell and Gaston were joined on the AEC Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll by Centenary University (N.J.) sophomore middle blocker Jenny Thistlewaite (Norco, Calif.) and junior libero Asia Logan (Hi Nella, N.J.), Marymount University sophomore outside hitter Harper Wolf (Austin, Texas) and senior setter Natalie Bialecki (Toledo, Ohio), and Marywood University graduate middle hitter Casey Hagerstrom (Bethpage, N.Y.). Neumann University offered the league’s Player and Specialty Player of the Week as sophomore hitter Nayeli Cruz (Carolina, Puerto Rico) and senior setter Dani Smith (Morinville, Alberta) earned the respective titles.
Gwynedd Mercy University (11-7, 0-1) hit .700 (7K-0E-10TA) in an error-less fifth set. After briefly trailing 2-1, the Griffins scored 14 straight points on the service of freshman libero
Annalise Kuppel (Estell Manor, N.J.) as they forced Rutgers-Camden (5-14) into a timeout down 8-2 and and eliminated them on the 26th kill of the evening for sophomore outside hitter
Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.); 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3). Gwynedd Mercy University's impressive fifth set was the exclamation on a heroic effort that saw the Griffins drop the first set (25-17) and third set (25-23) with Red and Gold rallies in the second set (25-23), and fourth set (25-16) leading to the Scarlet Raptors' eventual demise. Purnell provided her fourth match of 20 kills or more - and second in a row - with 21 successful spikes. She also totaled an assist, three aces, and nine digs. Meanwhile, Gaston offered a career-high 58 assists. She also scored an ace, made four block assists, and hustled to 13 digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University was only able to score in the third set, 25-18, of Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 25-19) AEC loss to Neumann University as the Knights used opening wins of 25-20 and 25-15 to get the early edge on the Griffins. Purnell totaled 13 kills, four aces, and a pair of block assists in an 18-point performance. Gaston offered 26 assists and three aces. Purnell (4) and Gaston (3) were responsible for all of the Griffins' seven aces. They both also record double-digit digs as well; Purnell recorded 13 and Gaston made 10.
Gwynedd Mercy University continues their AEC schedule on Wednesday, October 16, when they host Centenary University (N.J.) for a 6:00 p.m. Side-Out Foundation Dig Pink game.
