CAA Volleyball Report - Sept. 18, 2023
CAA Volleyball Report - Sept. 18, 2023
The third week of CAA Women's Volleyball has wrapped up and here is everything you should know!
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Izadora Stedile, Hofstra
Sophomore | Outside Hitter | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil / Colégio Elite
Stedile was terrific over the weekend, leading the Hofstra attack with 4.86 kills per set on a .426 hitting percentage as the Pride started 2-0 in CAA play and extended its winning streak to six matches. The sophomore outside hitter added 3.29 digs per set, recording back-to-back double-doubles. On Saturday, Stedile slammed down a career-best 22 kills, hitting .436, with 10 digs, five assists and three service aces in a straight-set victory over Elon. She followed the performance with 12 kills on a .409 hitting percentage, adding 13 digs and one service ace as Hofstra defeated Elon in four sets on Sunday.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor Burrell, William & Mary
Graduate | Outside Hitter | Boca Raton, Fla. / West Boca Raton
Burrell paced the Tribe offense with 46 kills (4.60/set) on a .299 hitting percentage, leading William & Mary to a 2-0 start in CAA play and its first-ever season sweep of Charleston. On Saturday, the graduate outside hitter recorded a career-high 23 kills on a season-best .477 hitting percentage, adding four digs as the Tribe prevailed in five sets. Burrell matched the career effort on Sunday, tallying a match-high 23 kills with nine digs and one block to help W&M complete the reverse sweep.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nyla Shepherd, Northeastern
Graduate | Middle Blocker | Woodstock, Ga. / Woodstock
Shepherd tallied 17 blocks, averaging 2.43 per set, to help Northeastern begin CAA play with an undefeated weekend against Stony Brook. In the weekend finale, Shepherd tallied a career and match-high 15 blocks, helping limit Stony Brook to a .130 team hitting percentage as the Huskies engineered a reverse sweep. She also added nine kills while hitting .350 in the effort. Additionally, the 15 blocks are tied for the most in a five-set match in the NCAA this fall. Shepherd also played two sets in Saturday’s contest, contributing two blocks and two kills in the Northeastern victory.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Cameron Lanier, Elon
Freshman | Right Side | Chapel Hill, N.C. / Cedar Ridge
Lanier contributed 3.57 kills per set on a .273 hitting percentage, adding 2.57 digs per set for Elon over the weekend. On Saturday, the freshman right side recorded her first career double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs against Hofstra. She added three blocks and two service aces in the effort. Lanier followed the performance with 12 kills, four digs and two service aces on Sunday.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
HOW SWEEP IT IS
• The opening weekend of CAA play saw five teams sweep their first league matchups this fall. Hofstra, UNCW, Northeastern, Towson and William & Mary earned back-to-back wins this weekend to open CAA play 2-0 and start atop the conference standings.
TWO-AND-OH SHOWDOWN
• The only matchup between teams that started 2-0 in CAA play this weekend features Northeastern entertaining Hofstra. The Pride holds a 48-17 advantage in the series dating back to 1986. Hofstra has had recent success as well, winning nine of the past 10 matches, including three in a row and a season sweep last fall.
CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
• Towson hosts Delaware this weekend in a rematch of the 2022 CAA Championship match. It should prove to be a pivotal early-season matchup as the Tigers were the unanimous preseason favorite, and the Blue Hens were pegged second in the preseason poll. Towson started league play 2-0 with wins over Hampton, while Delaware split its weekend series with Campbell. The all-time series has been one of streaks, with Towson on the current hot streak, winning 14 straight matches. Overall, the Tigers have a 51-39 advantage dating back to 1976.
TEAM NOTES:
• Campbell split its weekend series with Delaware. The Camels' four-set victory on Sunday was the first CAA win for Campbell in program history.
• Melody Paige tallied 21 kills (2.63/set) with just one error, hitting .556 over the weekend. Paige had 14 kills and set a Campbell record, hitting .824 on Saturday. Additionally, she became Campbell’s all-time leader for blocks (446).
• Claranne Fechter paced the Campbell backline, recording 42 for an average of 5.25 per set. Fechter had double-digit digs in both games, including a season-high 31 in the victory.
• Charleston dropped back-to-back thrilling five-set matches to William & Mary to begin league play. The Cougars had not played a five-set match this season before this weekend.
• Lexi Wierzbicki led Charleston with 36 kills (3.60/set), adding 24 digs (2.40/set) and 11 blocks (1.10/set). In addition, Wierzbicki recorded her third double-double (16K, 16D) this season in the finale.
• Tynley Smeltzer tallied 53 digs (5.30/set), recording 20-plus digs in back-to-back contests. Smeltzer reset her season-high in consecutive matches with 26 on Saturday and 27 on Sunday.
• Delaware split its weekend series against Campbell, winning the opener before dropping Sunday’s contest. It marks the second straight CAA-opening victory for the Blue Hens.
• Lani Mason paced Delaware with 26 kills (3.25/set) and added 20 digs (2.50/set). Mason tallied double-digit kills in both matches and had her fifth double-double (14K, 14D) this fall on Sunday.
• Kirah Johnson added 23 kills (2.88/set) and hit .316 for the weekend. Johnson reached double figures and hit over .300 in both matches. The senior has a hitting percentage of .300 or better nine times this fall.
• Elon fell in back-to-back contests at Hofstra to begin its conference slate. Despite the setbacks, Elon recorded a season-best hitting percentage (.324) on Saturday.
• Cameron Lanier led Elon with 25 kills (3.57/set) and added 18 digs (2.57/set). The freshman had double-digit kills in both matches, including her first career double-double (13K, 14D) on Saturday.
• Jessica Parker facilitated the offense with 59 assists (8.43/set) and contributed 17 digs (2.43/set). The freshman tallied a career-best 31 assists on Saturday. She has at least 25 assists in three straight matches.
• Hampton started league play 0-2 following back-to-back losses to the defending CAA Champions, Towson. However, the Lady Pirates won their first set this season in a 3-1 setback.
• Madison Clark led Hampton with 16 kills (2.29/set) and recorded 15 digs (2.14/set). Clark became the first Lady Pirate to reach double-digit kills this fall, with 11 on Saturday.
• Maria Eduarda Rodrigues contributed 22 assists, 10 digs and four blocks. On Saturday, Eduarda Rodrigues had a career-high 11 assists and matched the effort on Sunday.
• Hofstra went 2-0 against Elon in its CAA-opening series, extending its winning streak to six matches. It marks the first season sweep for the Pride over the Phoenix since 2018.
• Izadora Stedile led Hofstra with 34 kills (4.86/set), hitting .426 for the weekend. She also tallied 23 digs (3.29/set), recording back-to-back double-doubles. Stedile has a team-best five double-doubles.
• Beatriz Alves recorded 91 assists for an average of 13.00 per set. She had over 40 assists in each match and tallied her fourth double-double this fall.
• North Carolina A&T dropped its first two CAA contests in straight sets to in-state rival UNCW. A&T has started league play 0-2 in back-to-back seasons.
• Naiya Sawtelle had a team-high 22 kills (3.67/set) and posted a .242 hitting percentage. Sawtelle had a match-high 16 kills on Sunday, making her ninth match in double figures this fall.
• Morgan Allen paced the Aggies backline with 20 digs (3.33/set). Allen reached double-digits on Sunday, recording a team-high 13 digs. It marks her sixth match with at least 10 digs this season.
• The Seahawks swept North Carolina A&T to open the CAA season at 2-0 for the first time since 2015. UNCW did not drop a set in the sweep of the Aggies. On Saturday, UNCW hit .404 as a team, ranking third all-time in program history.
• Katie Lanz recorded 42 kills (4.20/set) on a 3.14 hitting percentage. Lanz had double-digit kills in all three matches and has reached double figures in five straight.
• Jadyn Berry tallied 43 digs (4.30/set), including 10 or more in all three matches. Berry has reached double figures in four consecutive contests.
• Northeastern opened CAA play 2-0 with back-to-back wins over Stony Brook. It marks the third 2-0 start to league play for the Huskies in the past four seasons.
• Nyla Shepherd tallied 17 blocks, averaging 2.43 per set. Shepherd had a career-high 15 blocks in the finale. The block total tied a program record and NCAA single-game high this fall.
• Jessica Frannea had 74 assists (8.22/set) with 24 assists (3.00/set). Frannea had over 30 assists in both matches and recorded her third double-double (38A, 16D) of the fall on Sunday.
• Stony Brook dropped its first two matches in CAA play, falling to Northeastern in back-to-back contests. The Seawolves have started league play 0-2 in two straight seasons.
• Leoni Kunz paced the Stony Brook with 34 kills (3.78/set). Kunz posted a .325 hitting percentage over the two matches. In addition, the senior tallied a career-best 24 kills on Sunday.
• Kali Moore logged back-to-back double-doubles, giving her three this season. The sophomore recorded 28 kills (3.11/set) and 32 digs (3.56/set) over the weekend.
• Towson started conference play 2-0 for the second consecutive season, defeating Hampton in a pair of matches this weekend.
• Nina Cajic led Towson with 23 kills (3.29/set) and hit .354 while adding 16 digs (2.29/set). Cajic had 14 kills in the weekend finale for her eighth double-figure effort this season. She has at least 10 kills in five of her past six matches.
• Sarah Jordan contributed 55 assists (7.86/set) and 15 digs (2.14.set). Jordan recorded her fourth double-double (24A, 11D) in the series opener. She has 30 or more three times this fall.
• The Tribe started CAA play with two wins over Charleston. It marks the first season sweep for W&M over CofC in program history and just the second time since 2014 W&M has opened league play 2-0.
• Taylor Burrell led W&M with 46 kills (4.60/set). The graduate outside hitter had a career-high 23 kills on Saturday and matched it on Sunday. She has at least 10 kills in five straight contests.
• Olivia Esposito recorded a team-high 16 blocks (1.60/set). On Sunday, the sophomore tallied a career-high 11 blocks after five in the opener. Esposito has five or more blocks in five straight matches.