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Women's Volleyball

ODAC Women's Volleyball Report: Week 5

ODAC play was a little lighter over the past week with just three conference contests among the 20 overall matches. One of those league showdowns proved to be a big result for Bridgewater with the Eagles earning their first win over 11th-ranked Washington and Lee since 2019. Virginia Wesleyan, the 23rd-ranked team in the country, is joined by Lynchburg at 3-0 in league matches atop the ODAC table. The Hornets received 116 points towards last week's AVCA poll rankings, making them the first team outside the top-25. Lynchburg and VWU are a combined 31-1, while WLU (13) and BC (10) have also cracked double figures in overall victories.

  • ANNA BLACK | BRIDGEWATER | LIBERO
    Black, a graduate student from Rock Hill, S.C., collects her second ODAC weekly award after helping Bridgewater make its lone match of the week a positive result with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-14) triumph over 11th-ranked Washington and Lee. The victory marked the Eagles first over the Generals since 2019. Black had a nearly spotless stat-line with a match-high 18 digs for 6.0 per set. She also handled all 24 serve receiving attempts without an error for a 1.000 percentage as the most popular service target in the match. She added an assist offensively. For the season, Black leads the ODAC in overall digs (263) and is third in digs per set (4.96).

  • NIYA NASH | VIRGINIA WESLEYAN | SETTER
    Nash, a junior from Woodbridge, Va., was both prolific and nearly blemish free in guiding the nationally 23rd-ranked Marlins offense to a 2-0 week against strong competition in a tri-match at Christopher Newport University. Nash averaged 13.14 assists per set with 92 total helpers in Virginia Wesleyan's two wins over Haverford College and the host Captains, which were receiving votes towards last week's AVCA top-25. In a 3-1 (25-21, 25-12, 22-25, 25-20) win over the Fords, Nash handed out 38 assists on 119 set attempts with just one error. She also collected three kills on 10 error-free swings with one service ace. She added 18 digs and a block assist defensively. In a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-23, 30-28) of CNU in match two, Nash posted the third-most assists in a three-set match in Division III this season with 44 dimes. That mark, which is the most in the ODAC in a three-setter, was accomplished on 95 set attempts without an error. She added two kills while picking up 16 digs defensively. For the season, Nash leads the ODAC in assists (575) and assists per set (10.09).

    • Bridgewater opposite Faith DePew registered 12 kills at a .611 clip with an ace and a pair of block assists to help the Eagles to a 3-0 win over 11th-ranked Washington and Lee, the program's first win over the Generals since 2019.
    • EMU libero Felicity Jones notched 36 digs and posted seven digs in the Royals three-match week.
    • Guilford libero Vivian Cavataio picked up 28 digs and posted two aces, while middle Madison Duvall smacked 20 kills at a .410 clip with two aces in the Quakers 1-1 week against former ODAC foe Emory & Henry (2-3) and Carolina University (3-0).
    • Hollins middle Sophia Mauer collected 20 kills while hitting .391 to go with six aces and eight total blocks (4 solo) in a 2-1 week against Gallaudet (0-3), Wilson (3-0), and Christendom (3-0).
    • Lynchburg middle and reigning ODAC Offensive Player of the Week Leah DiNardo hammered 15 kills and hit .433 with eight total blocks (3 solo) in wins over Catholic (3-1) and Pitt-Bradford (3-0). Outside Kate Hardie went for 18 kills at a .261 clip with three aces, 14 digs, and five total blocks.
    • Randolph setter Kailee Turner averaged 8.78 assists per set powered by 79 total helpers with four kills, six aces, 18 digs, and four total blocks in wins over St. Mary's (Md.)(3-2) and Pitt-Bradford (3-1).
    • Roanoke libero Teagan Hubble picked up 25 digs and middle Emma Catoe posted 11 kills at a .280 clip with five total blocks in a 3-0 win at Averett.
    • Shenandoah libero Autumn Stroop picked up 48 digs to go with four assists and three aces in a pair of 3-1 wins over Randolph-Macon and Hood University. Middle Ashlyn Spence smacked 22 kills on a .405 percentage and 16 total blocks.
    • Virginia Wesleyan middle Breana Brooks registered 19 kills while hitting .350 to go with eight total blocks in wins over Haverford (3-1) and Christopher Newport (3-0).
    • Washington and Lee libero Vivi Vasquez registered 55 digs (5.5/set), while outside Grace Mitchener posted 42 kills with two aces, 34 digs, and three total blocks in the 11th-ranked Generals 2-1 week against Bridgewater (0-3), Mary Washington (3-1), and Gettysburg (3-0).
Niya Nash
Anna Black