Last Week’s Stats: 2.75 points per set, 2.50 digs per set, 2.30 kills per set, .236 hitting percentage
Samardzija became the first NEC player to run it back as NEC/Molten Rookie of the Week after she put up solid numbers in three matches last week. During that stretch, the Novi Sad, Serbia native averaged 2.75 points per set after she tallied 23 kills on .236 hitting while adding four blocks and a pair of service aces. In addition, Samardzija contributed 2.50 digs per set. Highlighting the outside hitter’s week was a stellar performance against New Hampshire in the opening match of the East Coast Classic, hosted by UConn. Racking up 11 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the season, she continued to stuff the stat sheet by recording two blocks in the four-set defeat to the Wildcats. Samardzija concluded the weekend by hitting .400 against UConn after registering nine kills and just one miscue in 20 attempts. She enters the week ranked eighth in the NEC in kills per set (2.59), while her 3.03 digs per set are good for second among conference leaders.