NEC/Molten Player of the Week: Patrycja Lagida, Chicago State
NEC/Molten Defensive Player of the Week: Alasha Colon, LIU
NEC/Molten Rookie of the Week: Olivia Keckler, Central Connecticut

Previous NEC Releases: September 10 | September 4 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Patrycja Lagida, Chicago State 
Outside Hitter, Sophomore, Chotomow, Poland
Last Week’s Stats: 3.53 points per set, 3.00 kills per set, 2.67 digs per set, 5 service aces
Lagida delivered solid performances against solid competition this past week to lead Chicago State to a split record in four matches. The Poland native averaged 3.53 points, 3.00 kills and 2.67 digs per set during that stretch. After the Cougars fell to Indiana and Ball State in the opening matches of the Indiana Invitational, Lagida delivered a double-double on 16 kills and 11 digs to propel her team past Southern Indiana by a 3-1 final. She capped off her weekend by taking home All-Tournament Team honors after she combined for 39 kills, 29 digs and four service aces. On Monday, the outside hitter contributed 11 digs and a season-high three blocks in four sets against crosstown rival Illinois-Chicago to make it back-to-back triumphs for Chicago State. Amongst league leaders, Lagida leads the way in total kills (120) while her 3.43 kill-per-set average is good for third overall. She is the second Chicago State player to take home a weekly award from the NEC, as Andrea Calderon was pegged the NEC/Molten Defensive Player of the Week last Tuesday.
 
NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alasha Colon, LIU 
Senior, Libero, Carolina, Puerto Rico/Academia Presbiteriana (St. Francis Brooklyn)
Last Week’s Stats: 5.22 digs per set
Colon became the first repeat weekly award winner of 2024 after she put up solid numbers against stiff competition this past week. The veteran outside hitter and defending NEC Defensive Player of the Year led the entire circuit in digs, averaging 5.22 per set against Rutgers, No. 18 Minnesota and Auburn. Beginning the week with a 17-dig effort against the Scarlet Knights, the Puerto Rico native registered 11 and 19 digs against the Golden Gophers and the Tigers, respectively, to earn herself a spot on the Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Teams. The 19 digs against Auburn in her final match of the week marked the most in a three-set contest by an NEC player this season. With 151 total digs this season, Colon leads the conference with 4.58 per set.
 
NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Olivia Keckler, Central Connecticut
Freshman, Opposite Hitter, Easton, PA/Easton Area
Last Week’s Stats: .216 hitting percentage, 2.80 points per set, 2.00 kills per set, 1.00 digs per set, 0.60 blocks per set, 0.50 service aces per set
A native of Easton, PA, Keckler averaged 2.80 points, 2.00 kills and 1.00 digs per set last week to help lead Central Connecticut to a 1-1 mark. Combining for 20 kills and six blocks during that stretch, the first-year opposite hitter had her finest outing to date in a Blue Devils’ uniform on Saturday, delivering a career-high 13 kills while adding a personal-best four blocks in a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Holy Cross. The victory marked the first of the season for Central Connecticut, and the first for head coach Alyssa Broccoli. Against Merrimack on Thursday, Keckler delivered a career-high four service aces in the hard-fought, five-set defeat. Keckler’s NEC/Molten Rookie of the Week award is the first weekly honor for a Blue Devil this season.


NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Weronika Poczynek, CCSU (OH, Jr.)
Last Week’s Stats: .216 hitting percentage, 3.80 points per set, 3.00 kills per set, 2.80 digs per set, 0.50 service aces per set, 0.40 blocks per set

• Compiled two double-doubles in a five-set defeat to Merrimack (Sept. 12) and a 3-2 win over Holy Cross (Sept. 14)
• Her 18 kills and 18 digs against the Crusaders were both season-best marks 

 
Andrea Calderon, CSU (L, Gr.)
Last Week’s Stats: 4.27 digs per set

• Notched double-digit digs in all four matches, including 25 in a four-set win against Southern Indiana (Sept. 14)
• The 25 digs are the most in a four-set match an NEC player this season

 
Patrycja Lagida, CSU (OH, So.)
Last Week’s Stats: 3.53 points per set, 3.00 kills per set, 2.67 digs per set, 5 service aces

• Named to the All-Tournament Team of the Indiana Invitational
• Delivered a double-double (16 kills, 11 digs) in a four-set win over Southern Indiana (Sept. 14)
• Contributed 11 digs and a season-high three blocks in a 3-1 victory over crosstown rival Illinois-Chicago (Sept. 16)
• Earned NEC/Molten Player of the Week honors

 
Avery Bain, FDU (OH, So.)
Last Week’s Stats: .198 hitting percentage, 3.86 points per set, 3.36 kills per set, 1.00 blocks per set

• Delivered double-digit kills in all three matches to lead FDU to a 2-1 record
• Recorded a season-best five rejections — the most by an NEC player in a three-set match this season — while adding 10 kills in Saturday’s win over Lafayette (Sept. 14)
• Registered a season-high 17 kills and added five blocks to match a season-best effort in a five-set loss to Fordham (Sept. 14)

 
MacKenzy Ruggiero, FDU (RS, Jr.)
Last Week’s Stats: .321 hitting percentage, 3.18 points per set, 3.09 kills per set

• Named to the FDU Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Hit .500 with one miscue and eight kills in a straight-set win over Lafayette (Sept. 13)
• Had a season-high 15 kills in five-set defeat to Fordham (Sept. 14)

 
Emily Van O’Linda, FDU (L, Sr.)
Last Week’s Stats: 5.09 digs per set, 1,00 assists per set, 0.55 service aces per set

• Named Tournament MVP of the FDU Invitational

 
Alasha Colon, LIU (L, Sr.)
Last Week’s Stats: 5.22 digs per set

• Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Diet Coke Classic 
• Delivered 19 digs against Auburn, the most in a three-set match by an NEC player this season (Sept. 14)
• Pegged the NEC/Molten Defensive Player of the Week

 
Korrin Burns, SFU (OH, Jr.)
Last Week’s Stats: 3.11 kills per set, 2.44 digs per set

• Led Saint Francis U with 28 kills in three matches at the Michigan/Oakland Invitational 
• Registered 13 kills in a straight-set defeat to Sacramento State (Sept. 12)

2024 NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4: Camelia Melendez (LIU)
Sept. 10: Korrin Burns (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 17: Patrycja Lagida (Chicago State)
Sept. 24: 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4: Alasha Colon (LIU)
Sept. 10: Andrea Calderon (Chicago State)
Sept. 17: Alasha Colon (LIU)
Sept. 24: 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4: Bella Correia (LIU)
Sept. 10: Alyssa Irwin (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 17: Olivia Keckler (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 24: