Lancaster, Pa. – (9/8/2026) – Gwynedd Mercy University senior pin hitter Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) started the 2026 season in impressive fashion as she earned the first
Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Volleyball Player of the Week award with her performances versus Ursinus College (L, 0-3; 14-25, 8-25, 19-25 on Sept. 1), King's College (Pa.) (L, 0-3; 13-25, 14-25, 11-25 on Sept. 4), and Penn State Schuylkill (L, 1-3; 27-29, 25-19, 31-33, 13-25 on Sept 4). She was joined on the report by sophomore defensive specialist P.J. Mendoza (Kennett Square, Pa.), who garnered an Honor Roll mention for her play at libero. Etter finished the opening week with 31.0 points (29 kills, 1 solo block, 2 block assists), two assists, and 40 digs, while Mendoza finished with 4.0 points (4 aces), seven assists, and 57 digs.
 
Opposite Etter, Marymount University senior setter Emerson Aber (Cumming, Ga.) was named the AEC Women's Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week. Mendoza was joined on the Weekly Honor Roll by her teammate, freshman outside hitter/opposite Brigid Donahue (Catonsville, Md.), as well as, freshman setter/right side Tara Hirschtritt (Reading, Pa.) and sophomore defensive specialist Adriana Ventura (Williamstown, N.J.) from Immaculata University.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University (0-3) had trouble finding their groove in a 3-0 (25-14, 25-8, 25-19) loss as the Bears emerged from a 6-6 stalemate for a 25-14 first-set win and dominated the second set to a 25-8 conclusion. The Griffins saved their best for last as a team-best .194 (11K-5E-31TA) hitting percentage kept them on Ursinus College's heels in a 25-19 third-set final. Etter (10 digs) and Mendoza (12) combined for 22 of the Griffins' 43 digs in the match with the former also contributing 4.5 points (4 kills, 1 block assist) and the latter additionally providing an assist.
 
On Friday night, the Red and Gold traveled up the Northeast Extension for a tri-match with Penn State Schuylkill (1-0) and host, King's College (PA) (1-1). The Griffins faced the Monarchs in the opening match of the event and battled them to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-11) loss. Against the Nittany Lions, a 25-19 Red and Gold win in the second set evened the match (1-1) before an unfortunate 3-1 (29-27, 19-25, 33-31, 25-13) conclusion.

Etter totaled 26.5 points between the two matches; she scored 12.0 points (11 kills, 1 solo block) and made 10 digs versus King's College, then recorded 14.5 points (14 kills, 1 block assist) versus Penn State Schuylkill. Mendoza was a factor against the Nittany Lions with three of the Griffins' seven aces and a team-high 33 digs.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to campus to host Cairn University for a 7:00 p.m. home opener on Wednesday, September 9.