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Etter Earns Second AEC Women's Volleyball Honor Roll Recognition

Lancaster, Pa. - (10/6/2025) - Gwynedd Mercy University junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) courageous effort garnered Etter a spot in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll for the second time this season. Etter finished with a game-high 20.5 points, with 18 kills, two aces, a block assist, and 12 digs in the five-set thriller victory over Albright College in a 1-0 week.
 
The AEC Women's Volleyball Player of the Week award went to Marywood University junior middle blocker Taylor Hallam (Harrisburg, Pa.), while the Specialist of the Week honor went to her teammate, freshman setter Ayla Bransford (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Etter was joined on the AEC Women's Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll by Marymount University junior defensive specialist Ava Humphries (Charlotte, N.C.), teammate freshman outside hitter and defensive specialist Hailey LaBonte (Portsmouth, R.I.), as well as Neumann University sophomore outside Julia Solomon (Ridley Park, Pa.) 
 
The Griffins came out strong, edging the Lions in the opening frame 25-23, before Albright responded to take the next two sets. Gwynedd Mercy refused to fold, rallying in a pressure-packed fourth set with a 25-23 win, then carrying that momentum into the decisive fifth, where they dominated 15-9 to seal the match. 
 
Etter powered the offense with a match-high 18 kills and added 12 digs for a double-double performance. Senior middle hitter Charlotte Pugh (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in 14 kills and 16 digs, while sophomore pin hitter Annalise Kuppel (Estell Manor, N.J.) was a steady force at the net with 12 kills and 14 digs. Senior setter Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) directed the attack with 42 assists to go along with 7 digs and 2 service aces. 
 
Serving proved to be a difference-maker, as Gwynedd Mercy tallied 10 aces, including clutch runs from sophomore defensive specialist Marley Robbins (Medford, N.J.), who landed 5 without an error. The Griffins' defense held firm with 70 digs overall, highlighted by strong back-row efforts from Pugh and Etter. 
 
In the fifth set, Gwynedd Mercy quickly turned a narrow 7-6 edge into a commanding lead behind a decisive serving stretch from Robbins, who delivered back-to-back aces to put the Lions on their heels. Etter closed the night with a kill to cap off the 15-9 finish. 
 
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action Thursday, October 9, as the team welcomes Rutgers-Camden to the Griffin Complex to take part in the Dig Pink game with a 6:00 p.m. start time.