PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its women's volleyball weekly honors for the week ending Sept. 1.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAEDYN SIMBA-MALASARTE • Rutgers-Newark
Sophomore • Outside Hitter • Las Vegas, NV / Palo Verde
Simba-Malasarte opened the year with a dominant all-around showing to earn the first NJAC Player of the Week award of 2025. She totaled 46 kills (3.29/set) and added 57 digs (4.07/set) along with five blocks across four matches. Simba-Malasarte posted 17 kills and 12 digs in a sweep of Hunter, and later registered a season-high 23 digs in a five-set battle with Wilkes. Her ability to impact both offensively and defensively made her one of the most complete performers of the opening weekend.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BELLA DEMERS • William Paterson University
Sophomore • Libero • Maumee, OH / Maumee
Demers claims the first NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honor after anchoring the Pioneers’ back row with 77 digs in four matches. She averaged 5.50 digs per set and reached double figures in every outing, highlighted by 27 digs in a five-set contest against Lynchburg. Demers also contributed eight assists and four service aces in her strong opening-weekend performance.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
LUCY CORNELIUS • Montclair State University
Freshman • Setter • Snohomish, WA / Glacier Peak
Cornelius earns the season’s first NJAC Rookie of the Week award after orchestrating Montclair State’s offense to a 4-0 start. The freshman setter dished out 125 assists (8.93/set) while also collecting 43 digs, 10 kills, and two service aces. Cornelius recorded 25 assists, 14 digs, and four kills in a 3-1 win over Washington College, then capped the weekend with a career-high 38 assists in a sweep of Hartwick. Her production helped the Red Hawks roll through their opening weekend without a blemish.