CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Three teams posted unblemished records to open the volleyball Patriot League slate over the weekend. Lehigh, which defeated rival Lafayette at home on Wednesday in straight-sets, currently sits at the top with a 3-0 mark. Both American and Army West Point went 2-0, while Navy and Colgate split the weekend at 1-1.
 
Army and Holy Cross were first to open League action, with the Black Knights coming out on top in three on Tuesday. Junior outside hitter Amber Clay led the team with 10 kills and a .467 hitting percentage, while classmate middle blocker Vanessa Wesley also chipped in 10. For the Crusaders, senior Mandy Sifferlen led the team with a 14-kill; 10-dig double-double.
 
Rivals Lehigh and Lafayette opened their League slate the following day, with the Mountain Hawks winning in straight-sets, as the rest of the League began its season on Friday.
 
In League play, American’s Aleksandra Kazala leads the way with 29 total kills with an average of 4.83 kills per set. Army’s Haven Bethune is second in the League with 79 assists but leads the way with 11.29 assists per set. Lehigh’s Megan Polak is at the top with 105. Defensively, Lehigh’s Emily Develle is averaging 4.90 digs per set while three players – Army’s Olivia Fairfield, Loyola Maryland’s Haley Puddy, Lehigh’s Emily Poole – each have ten total blocks. Fairfield leads the way averaging 1.43 blocks per set.
 
Before Patriot League play continues this weekend, American will head to Dover, Del. on Wednesday to take on Delaware State at 6 p.m.
 
In a rematch of last year’s championship contest, the Black Knights will host the Eagles on Friday at 7 p.m. which will be broadcast on American Sports Network. A list of the stations carrying the contest can be found by clicking here.
 
Last Week’s Results
Tuesday, September 20
Army West Point 3, Holy Cross 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-17)
 
Wednesday, September 21
Lehigh 3, Lafayette 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20)
 
Friday, September 23
Lehigh 3, Navy 1 (19-25, 25-17, 27-25, 25-16)
Colgate 3, Holy Cross 0 (25-14, 25-18, 26-24)
Lafayette 3, Loyola Maryland 2 (22-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12)
American 3, Bucknell 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-23)
 
Saturday, September 24
Lehigh 3, Loyola Maryland 0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-20)
American 3, Lafayette 0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-19)
Navy 3, Bucknell 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-22)
Army West Point 3, Colgate 1 (13-25, 25-23, 25-19, 29-27)
 
The volleyball weekly awards for Sept. 18 - 25 went to Colgate’s Jaelah Hutchison and Lehigh’s Jessica Donaldson.
 
Patriot League Volleyball Weekly Awards

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAELAH HUTCHISON, COLGATE So., MB, San Francisco, Calif.
Hutchison hit over .500 in two matches this week, as the Raiders went 1-1. The sophomore helped Colgate to a 3-0 win over Holy Cross with 10 kills in addition to a season and career-best .563 hitting percentage. In the four-set loss to Army West Point, she tallied 12 kills and hit .500, while also posting a personal best four service aces. Hutchison finished the week with 22 kills and hit .532 while averaging 3.165 kills per set.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
JESSICA DONALDSON, LEHIGH Fr., OH, Great Falls, Va.
Donaldson led Lehigh in total kills as the Mountain Hawks went 3-0 last week. The freshman posted a season and career-high 21 kills in the four-set win over Navy and then had a team high nine kills in the straight-set victory over Loyola Maryland. She played in nine sets and recorded 36 kills and hit .325.

HONORABLE MENTION

ALEKSANDRA KAZALA, AMERICAN So., OH, Debica, Poland
Kazala helped the Eagles to a 2-0 week, first recording a 10-kill; 11-dig double-double against Bucknell. The sophomore then followed with 19 kills and hit .469 in the three-set victory over Lafayette.
 
MEGAN POLAK, LEHIGH So., S, Kirtland, Ohio
Polak led the Mountain Hawks to a 3-0 week, totaling 105 assists across 10 sets. The sophomore posted a double-double of 11 digs and career-best 46 assists in the four-set win over Navy.
 
 
Past Weekly Award Winners
Player of the Week
09.20.16  Aleksandra Kazala, American
09.13.16  Mandy Sifferlen, Holy Cross
09.06.16  Amber Clay, Army West Point
08.30.16  Patricia Mattingly, Navy
 
Rookie of the Week
09.20.16  Shannon Webb, American
09.13.16  Allie Strong, Army West Point
09.06.16  Allie Strong, Army West Point
08.30.16  Mimi Richards, Bucknell