WEEKLY HONORS:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nina Cajic, Towson

Senior | Outside Hitter | Subotica, Serbia / Politehnicka skola Subotica 

Cajic led Towson to a 2-0 weekend with 4.00 kills per set on a .462 hitting percentage. The senior outside hitter reached double-digit kills in back-to-back straight-set victories over Stony Brook, totaling 24 kills without an attacking error. On Saturday, Cajic recorded a match-high 11 kills, hitting .393 with six digs, two service aces and two blocks. She followed the effort, posting 13 kills on a .542 attacking percentage with four digs, one service ace and one block. Cajic has at least 10 kills in four straight matches and 16 times this fall. 

CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jadyn Berry, UNCW

Senior | Libero | Charlotte, N.C. / Ardrey Kell  

Berry continued an impressive stretch on the UNCW backline, recording 5.33 digs per set in a 2-0 weekend for the Seahawks. The senior libero tallied 32 digs, reaching double figures in both contests as UNCW limited Hampton to a .136 team-hitting percentage. On Saturday, Berry recorded a match-high 15 digs and added two service aces in a sweep over the Lady Pirates. She followed the performance with a match-best 17 digs, three assists and one service ace on Sunday. Berry has 10 or more digs in 14 consecutive contests, including all 12 CAA matches. 

CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Samaya Wesson, North Carolina A&T

Freshman | Middle Blocker | Arlington, Texas / Trinity HS  

Wesson contributed 2.29 blocks per set, helping North Carolina A&T to a split against William & Mary. The freshman middle blocker totaled 16 blocks, leading a defensive effort that held W&M to a .134 team-hitting percentage across two matches. On Thursday, Wesson tallied a season-best eight blocks, adding three kills and one dig despite a setback against the Tribe. She replicated the performance on Friday, leading the match with eight blocks while adding four kills in a three-set bounce back for A&T. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Gha’Naye Whitfield-Moss, Delaware

Freshman | Middle Blocker | Bessemer, Ala. / Hueytown 

Whitfield-Moss helped Delaware to a 2-0 weekend, averaging 1.38 kills and 1.13 blocks per set in a pair of wins over Hofstra. The freshman middle blocker added eight kills and a team-high five blocks on Saturday as the Blue Hens prevailed in five sets. On Sunday, Whitfield-Moss contributed four blocks with three kills in a straight-set victory for Delaware. 

CONFERENCE NOTES:

THREE-RING CIRCUS

• We are two-thirds through the CAA Volleyball schedule, and three teams have created separation between themselves and the field. Towson remains in first place at 10-2 following a 2-0 weekend, with Delaware and Campbell trailing by one game at 9-3 after weekend sweeps. All three teams are 8-2 in their last ten games and have winning streaks of at least four matches. In addition, they can all clinch berths to the CAA Tournament this weekend. 

TRAFFIC JAM

• The conference standings are jam-packed, as 10 teams have at least five wins in league play. There is a three-way tie for fourth place, a three-way tie for seventh place, and teams four through 10 are separated by just 2.0 games. UNCW, Northeastern and William & Mary are in the first grouping at 7-5, followed by Charleston, Hofstra and North Carolina A&T at 6-6. 

WEEKEND PREVIEW

• We are back to six matches on Saturday and six on Sunday, with plenty on the line. Matchups include Campbell (9-3) visiting Hofstra (6-6), Towson (10-2) heading to North Carolina A&T (6-6) and Delaware (9-3) traveling to UNCW (7-5), while Stony Brook (5-7) entertains William & Mary (7-5), Northeastern (7-5) hosts Charleston (6-6) and Elon (0-12) welcomes in Hampton (0-12).  

TEAM NOTES:

Campbell

• Campbell extended its winning streak to five matches following back-to-back sweeps over Northeastern. The Camels have not dropped a set in the past five contests. 

• Melody Paige paced Campbell, recording 18 kills (3.00/set) and nine blocks (1.50/set) while hitting .415. The fifth-year middle blocker had nine kills and hit over .375 in both matches, adding five blocks on Saturday and four on Sunday.

• Claranne Fechter continued to excel on defense, averaging 4.67 digs per set. Fechter totaled 28 digs and reached double figures in both contests. She has 10 or more digs in 20 matches this season, including five straight.

Charleston

• Charleston earned back-to-back wins over Elon this weekend. The Cougars topped the Phoenix in four sets on Saturday before a five-set victory on Sunday.

• Lexi Wierzbicki led the Cougars with 27 kills (3.00/set), adding 23 digs (2.56/set). The graduate outside hitter reached double-digit kills in both games and recorded her fifth double-double (14K, 14D) Sunday.

• Tynley Smeltzer averaged 4.56 digs per set to anchor the backline. She totaled 41 digs, with 22 on Saturday and 19 on Sunday. Smeltzer has at least 10 digs in 12 straight contests and 13 this fall. 

Delaware

• Delaware went 2-0 against Hofstra this weekend, extending its winning streak to seven matches. The Blue Hens defeated the Pride in five sets on Saturday and straight sets on Sunday.

• Lani Mason recorded two straight double-doubles, totaling 27 kills (3.38/set) and 25 digs (3.13/set). Mason has three double-doubles in a row and 12 this season. 

• Ezgi Basaranlar facilitated the Blue Hen attack, recording 76 assists (9.50/set). The graduate setter tallied 48 assists on Saturday and 28 on Sunday. It marks her seventh 40-plus assist effort this fall.

Elon 

• Elon fell in back-to-back contests to Charleston over the weekend. The Phoenix fell in four sets on Saturday before a five-set defeat on Sunday. 

• Jordan Gower was terrific on the defense, averaging 5.89 digs per set. The senior totaled 53 digs and tallied at least 20 in both matches. Gower recorded a season-high 28 digs on Saturday and 25 on Sunday. She has at 20 or more digs eight times this fall. 

• Sydney Love paced the Elon attack with 31 kills (3.44/set). The junior outside hitter reached double figures in both matches, recording 13 on Saturday and a season-best 18 on Sunday. 

Hampton

• Hampton went 0-2 in a pair of matches against UNCW this weekend. The Lady Pirates fell in back-to-back straight-set contests. 

• Madison Clark led Hampton with 18 kills (3.00/set) while adding 18 digs (3.00/set). Clark recorded her first career double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs on Saturday. Both marks were season highs for the junior outside hitter.

• Maria Eduarda Rodrigues contributed 17 kills (2.83/set) and 16 digs (2.67/set). The senior right side tallied a season-best 10 digs on Saturday before putting down a season-high 10 kills on Sunday.

Hofstra

• Hofstra dropped back-to-back contests against Delaware this weekend. The Pride fell in five sets on Saturday before falling in straight sets on Sunday. 

• Beatriz Alves recorded 69 assists (8.63/set) and 22 digs (2.75/set). The junior setter tallied her fifth double-double this season with 45 assists and 14 digs on Saturday. In addition, Alves surpassed 3,000 career assists with her effort on Sunday.

• Chiara Cucco tallied 37 digs, averaging 4.63 per set to lead the Hofstra backline. The junior libero reached double figures in both contests, recording 20 on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. 

North Carolina A&T

• North Carolina A&T earned a weekend split against William & Mary. The Aggies fell in four sets on Thursday but bounced back with a straight-set victory on Friday.

• Naiya Sawtelle paced A&T with 33 kills (4.71/set) and recorded 17 digs (2.43/set). Sawtelle posted her eighth double-double (16K, 12D) on Thursday. The junior outside hitter has 10 or more kills in 19 contests, including 11 in a row.

• Samaya Wesson added 16 blocks (2.29/set). Wesson had eight blocks in both matches, marking a season-high for the freshman.

UNCW

• The Seahawks went 2-0 against Hampton. UNCW defeated the Lady Pirates in back-to-back straight-set matches. It snapped a five-match skid for the Seahawks. 

• Jadyn Barry paced UNCW with 32 digs, averaging 5.33 per set. Berry tallied 15 digs on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. The senior libero has double-digit digs in 14 consecutive contests. 

• Katie Lanz paced UNCW with 21 kills (3.50/set) and added 22 digs. Lanz recorded her fourth double-double this fall with 13 kills and 11 digs in the finale. In addition, the graduate outside hitter surpassed 1,000 career kills on Saturday.

Northeastern 

• Northeastern dropped a pair of matches against Campbell. The Huskies fell in straight sets to the Camels on Saturday and Sunday. 

• Abby Reck led the Huskies with 19 kills (3.17/set). The freshman outside hitter tallied 14 kills and eight digs on Sunday. It marks her ninth performance with 10 or more kills this fall.  

• Tessa Onaga paced the Northeastern backline with 28 digs. She reached double figures in both contests, averaging 4.67 per set. The freshman has 10 or more digs in three straight matches and six overall this season. 

Stony Brook

• Stony Brook dropped back-to-back contests to Towson. The Seawolves fell in straight sets in both matches. Stony Brook has suffered four straight setbacks.

• Tori Henry totaled 50 assists (8.33/set) and added 17 digs (2.83/set). Henry had over 20 assists in both contests, recording her 12th double-double (27A, 11D) this year on Saturday.

• Julia Patsos paced the Stony Brook defense with 33 digs (5.50/set). The senior libero reached double figures in both contests, with 15 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. She has 10 or more digs 20 times this fall.

Towson 

• Towson went 2-0 against Stony Brook, defeating the Seawolves in straight sets in both matches. The Tigers have won four in a row and three consecutive straight-set victories. 

• Nina Cajic continued a torrid stretch, recording 4.00 kills per set on a .462 hitting percentage. The senior outside hitter tallied 24 kills without an error, reaching double-digit kills in both matches.

• Victoria Barrett contributed 27 kills (4.50/set) and 13 digs (2.17/set). The junior outside hitter had 11 kills on Saturday and 16 on Sunday. Barrett has 10 or more kills 14 times this season, including five straight contests.

William & Mary

• The Tribe went 1-1 against North Carolina A&T over the weekend, defeating the Aggies in four sets on Thursday before a setback (3-0) on Friday. 

• Taylor Burrell paced the attack with 19 kills (2.71/set). The graduate outside hitter tallied 10 kills on Friday after nine on Thursday. Burrell has at least 10 kills in 15 matches this fall. 

• Sarah Callender led W&M with 22 digs (3.14/set) while contributing 15 kills (2.14/set). The sophomore outside hitter reached double-digit digs in both matches and has at least 10 digs nine times this season.