HADDONFIELD, N.J. — The Atlantic East Conference announced its weekly volleyball awards Monday, with Pratt Institute sweeping both individual accolades for matches played Oct. 19-25. Senior Colleen Russell was named Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, while first-year Emma Hwang earned Specialty Player of the Week honors for the second time.
Together, the tandem helped the Cannoneers split their two-match conference slate, highlighted by a straight-set sweep of Saint Elizabeth University on Wednesday at the Activity Resource Center to secure Pratt's second league victory of the season.
Russell (Asbury, N.J.) paced the Pratt attack across six sets, compiling 29 kills on 51 attempts against just three errors for a .510 hitting percentage, while contributing eight digs, four service aces, and three block assists. In Wednesday's sweep of Saint Elizabeth, the senior middle hitter put on an offensive clinic, hammering down 18 kills on 26 swings with only one miscue for a .654 hitting percentage, adding four aces and two digs. On Saturday against Marymount, Russell logged a team-high 11 kills on .360 hitting along with six digs and three block assists. Her four Player of the Week awards lead the conference this fall.
Hwang (Dallas, Texas) directed the Cannoneer offense to an average of 5.33 assists per set, amassing 32 assists, 13 digs, six service aces, five kills, and one block assist on the week. In Wednesday's 3-0 triumph over Saint Elizabeth, the first-year setter collected 19 assists, nine digs, five service aces, and three kills on three attacks as Pratt hit a season-high .333 as a team. She followed with 13 assists, four digs, two kills, and an ace on Saturday against Marymount. The award marks Hwang's second Specialty Player of the Week honor, having previously earned the accolade on Sept. 21.
Pratt will celebrate Russell on Senior Night on Wednesday, Oct. 28, hosting Centenary University in an Atlantic East matchup at 7 p.m. at the ARC.
