BALTIMORE-- Fresh off clinching its seventh postseason appearance in nine years, the UMBC Volleyball team (16-7, 7-3) returns to The RAC to close the regular season against UMass Lowell (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Hartford (Saturday, 5 p.m.).
On Monday, the America East announced that sophomore libero Kristin Watson (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) and senior outside hitter Zoya Trendafilova (Sofia, Bulgaria/Elisaveta Bagryana) were named America East Defensive Specialist and Player of the Week, respectively.
Watson has now earned the award four times this season, and for Trendafilova it was her first career honor.
Watson tied a UMBC rally-score era record with 41 digs in a five set win at Albany on Sunday, and led the led the league with 6.56 digs/set. The walk-on is now 24th in the nation in digs per set at 5.10.
Trendafilova reset her career high in kills twice this weekend, first with 20 in the four set win at Binghamton on Friday and then again when she tallied 23 on Sunday at Albany. The senior also added a career-best 15 digs in the five-set win at Albany, and averaged 4.78 kills/set and 2.67 digs/set.
Scouting the River Hawks: UMass Lowell is coming off a four set loss in its home finale against Sacred Heart on Sunday, dropping to 6-20 overall. Madi Bell leads the team in kills, with 229. Katherine Claybaugh leads the team in kills per set with 2.81. Setter Delaney Mendez tops the River Hawks in assists with 566, while averaging 6.82 assists per set.
Live Stats
Live Video
Scouting the Hawks: Hartford will travel to Baltimore after a 4 p.m. Friday match at Stony Brook. The Hawks are coming off a 3-0 loss at New Hampshire to put their season record at 5-18 overall. Paulina Modestow leads the team in kills, with 261, and kills per set with 2.93. Setter Astrid Manqual tops the Hawks in assists with 772, while averaging 8.67 assists per set.
Live Stats
Live Video
