WEEKLY HONORS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nina Cajic, Towson

Junior | Outside Hitter | Subotica, Serbia / Politehnicka Skola Subotica

Cajic led Towson to a 2-0 weekend with 5.33 kills per set on a .698 hitting percentage, as the Tigers extended their winning streak to 14 matches. 

On Sunday, the junior outside hitter matched a career-high with 18 kills and posted a .667 hitting percentage to help Towson defeat Stony Brook in straight sets, earning the series sweep. 

In the opening match of the weekend, Cajic recorded a match-high 14 kills without committing an error, hitting a blistering .737. 

Cajic has reached double-figure kills in three straight contests and eight times this fall.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Anna Porter, William & Mary

Senior | Libero | Atlanta / St. Pius X Catholic

Porter was impressive defensively, recording a league-high 46 digs for an average of 5.75 digs per set in a pair of matches for the Tribe over the weekend. 

The senior libero tallied more than 20 digs in both contests, tallying 22 in the weekend opener, while adding four assists, despite a setback to Elon. 

Porter helped William & Mary bounce back, concluding the weekend victoriously behind 24 digs in a five-set win, also contributing six assists in the effort. 

Porter has eclipsed double-digit digs in 10 matches this season, including 20 or more four times.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Izadora Stedile, Hofstra

Freshman | Outside Hitter | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil / Colégio Elite

Stedile continued her strong introduction to the CAA, recording 3.57 kills per set and 1.43 digs per set to help Hofstra start 4-0 in CAA play for the first time since 2015. 

She started the weekend with 13 kills on a .450 hitting percentage in a straight-set victory over North Carolina A&T, adding eight digs and two assists in the effort. 

In the weekend finale, she posted 12 kills, two digs, two blocks and two assists to help secure the 2-0 weekend for the Pride. 

The two performances give Stedile double-digit kills in all four CAA matches this season.

CONFERENCE NOTES

FOUR UNBLEMISHED IN CAA PLAY 

• Four teams have yet to drop a CAA contest this fall, with Delaware, Hofstra and Towson beginning 4-0 through the first two weeks of conference play. 

In addition, Charleston opened its conference schedule this past weekend, starting the year 2-0 in CAA play. 

STRINGING WINS TOGETHER

• Four teams will enter this weekend with winning streaks of at least three matches. 

Towson has the nation’s longest active winning streak, having won 14 straight to begin the season, while Delaware is one of 15 teams in the country with at least seven consecutive victories. Additionally, Hofstra has won four matches in a row to begin conference play, and Charleston has won its past three contests. 

BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

• A pair of teams without a conference loss this season will go head to head this weekend. 

Delaware takes the trip south to face Charleston for contests on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Blue Hens are riding a seven-match winning streak, including a 4-0 start to CAA play, while the Cougars have won four out of five and sport a 2-0 record in league play. 

BIG TIME TIGERS

• Towson continued its hot start to the season, improving to 4-0 in CAA play with a pair of victories over Stony Brook. The Tigers have caught the nation’s eye, as Towson received votes three straight weeks in the AVCA top-25 poll.  

• Among the Tigers’ 10 non-conference wins is a victory over No. 7 Pittsburgh on Sept. 10, marking Towson’s first victory over a ranked opponent in program history. It was the second straight week the Tigers took down a Power Five foe after defeating Rutgers on Sept. 3.

TEAM NOTES

Charleston 

• Charleston opened CAA play with back-to-back victories over UNCW, starting 2-0 in the league for the first time since 2018. 

• Tynley Smeltzer had an impressive weekend on the Charleston backline, recording 40 digs for an average of 5.71 per set. Smeltzer tallied a career-best 31 digs in the opening match and has reached double-figure digs in nine of 11 appearances this fall.  

• Anna Smith paced the Charleston attack with 22 kills (3.14 per set), including a match-high 14 in the weekend finale. Smith has 10 or more kills in five matches this season. 

Delaware

• Delaware improved to 4-0 in conference action following a pair of road wins over Hampton and extended its winning streak to seven contests.

• Lani Mason continued to lead the way for the Blue Hens, recording 31 kills (5.16 per set) on a .329 hitting percentage to go with 18 digs (3.00 per set). Mason has reached double-digit kills in all 12 matches this season and recorded her fifth double-double (17K, 10D) this year in the weekend finale. 

• Savannah Seemans led Delaware with 27 digs (4.50 per set) and added 16 kills (2.67 per set) across the two contests. She matched a season-high with 14 kills in the opener and tallied 18 digs in the weekend finale. 

Elon 

• Elon went 1-1, splitting a pair of matches against William & Mary. The Phoenix collected a straight-set victory on Saturday, before dropping a five-set thriller Sunday.  

• Haylie Clark had a terrific weekend on both sides of the net. Clark recorded 90 assists (11.25 per set) and 26 digs (3.25 per set), setting season-highs with 51 assists and 18 digs on Sunday. It was her eighth double-double this season. 

• Freshman Clara LaRue contributed to the attack, recording double-figure kills in both matches. LaRue totaled 25 kills (3.13 per set), including a season-best 15 in the finale. 

Hampton 

• Hampton continued conference play, dropping back-to-back three-set matches to Delaware over the weekend. 

• Julieta Campana recorded at least 20 assists in both contests against the Blue Hens. The senior setter totaled 41 (6.83 per set) and added 11 digs. Campana has 20 or more assists in five of her seven appearances this year. 

• Gabby Calloway recorded a team-high 15 kills across the two matches, leading Hampton in both contests with eight and seven kills, respectively. Calloway leads Hampton with a team-high 56 kills this season.   

Hofstra 

• Hofstra went 2-0 against North Carolina A&T in the first-ever meetings between the teams over the weekend. The Pride improved to 4-0 in CAA play for the first time since 2015.  

• Beatriz Alves put forth an impressive effort facilitating the Hofstra attack, recording 74 assists (10.57 per set) with more than 35 in each match. 

In the finale, Alves picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 36 assists and 11 digs. 

• Izadora Stedile continued her solid start in conference action with double-digit kills in both contests. She recorded 25 total (3.57 per set) with 13 and 12, respectively. 

Stedile has at least 10 kills in four straight matches. 

North Carolina A&T

• North Carolina A&T fell to Hofstra in three sets Saturday, before dropping a four-set contest against the Pride on Sunday. 

• Naiya Sawtelle led the Aggies’ attack once again, recording 29 kills (4.14 per set). Sawtelle recorded 11 and 18 kills, respectively, and has reached double-figure kills in six straight contests. 

• Freshman Chiara Napoli recorded her third double-double in the past four contests with 24 assists and 12 digs on Sunday. She has four double-doubles this season, with three coming in conference play. 

UNCW

• UNCW dropped back-to-back contests to Charleston at home in CAA play last weekend. The Seahawks battled for four sets Saturday and fell in straight sets in the weekend finale. 

• Katie Lanz led the Seahawks with 24 kills (3.43 per set) and added 16 digs (2.29 per set) throughout the weekend. She tallied her third double-double this year with match-high 14 kills and 10 digs in the opener.  

• Quinn Manley surpassed double-figure digs in both matches, ending the weekend with 30 digs (4.29 per set). She matched a season-high with 19 digs on Saturday, followed by 11 on Sunday. 

Northeastern 

• Northeastern had the week away from the court, not seeing action since opening CAA play against Delaware on Sept. 17-18. 

• Erica Staunton has led the Huskie attack this season, ranking third in the CAA with 4.02 kills per set. Staunton has at least 10 kills in every match this season, including a career-high 26 in her last outing. 

• Kayla Martin anchors the Northeastern backline, ranking third in the CAA with 4.42 digs per set. She has reached double-digit dig totals in nine matches this season and has 20 or more on four occasions. 

Stony Brook 

• Stony Brook earned a mid-week victory over St. Francis Brooklyn, before dropping back-to-back contests against Towson in CAA action. 

• Kali Moore recorded her sixth double-double this season with 13 kills and 10 digs in the Stony Brook victory. She totaled 32 kills (3.56 per set) and 17 digs (1.89 per set) for the week. 

• Torri Henry contributed 95 assists (10.56 per set) and 27 digs (3.00 per set) throughout the week. Henry tallied her seventh double-double, recording 32 assists and 16 digs in the victory, and has surpassed 30 assists in eight matches this fall. 

Towson 

• Towson defeated Stony Brook in a pair of contests to improve to 4-0 in CAA play and extend its winning streak to 14 straight. The Tigers have not dropped a set in four conference matches thus far. 

• Nina Cajic led the Towson attack with 32 kills (5.33 per set) and a blistering .698 hitting percentage. She had double-digit kills in both contests, including a career-high 18 in the weekend finale. 

• Rachel Hess paced the Towson defense with 30 digs (5.00 per set) over the weekend. She had 18 digs in match one, followed by 12 in the finale, and has eclipsed double-figures in six of her last seven contests.

William & Mary 

• William & Mary split a pair of matches against Elon, going 1-1 last week. The Tribe bounced back to earn a five-set victory on Sunday after dropping Saturday’s contest in straight sets. 

• Anna Porter was terrific on the backline, recording 46 digs for an average of 5.75 per set for the Tribe. She had more than 20 in both matches with 22 and 24, respectively, and has reached double-figures in six straight contests. 

• Eleanor Stothoff paced the Tribe attack with a team-best 38 kills (4.75 per set) on a .384 hitting percentage. After 16 kills in match one, she responded with a season-high 22 in the William & Mary victory.