Last Week’s Stats: 5.25 points per set, 4.33 kills per set, .270 hitting percentage, 2.33 digs per set, 0.67 service aces per set
Samardzija, a freshman outside hitter, continues to dominate this season’s NEC/Molten Rookie of the Week award. Taking home the honor for a third-straight week, the Novi Sad, Serbia native has claimed the award in five of seven weeks this season. Samardzija was a workhorse for FDU last weekend. Putting up 5.25 points per set after averaging 4.33 kills and 0.67 service aces, Samardzija helped lead a red-hot FDU squad to a 4-0 start to NEC play following a pair of straight-set victories at Central Connecticut. Over the weekend, she tallied 26 kills on .270 hitting, including 14 in the Knights’ series opener on Friday that saw her also contribute three aces, seven digs and two blocks. Among all NEC players, she ranks seventh in kills (2.70 per set), ninth in aces (0.32 per set), third in digs (2.95 per set) and sixth in points (3.33 per set).