PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its women's volleyball weekly honors for the week ending Sept. 28.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JESSICA SMART • Rowan University
Freshman • Outside Hitter • Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional
Smart claimed NJAC Player of the Week honors after her spectacular performance in Rowan's 3-0 NJAC-opening victory at perennial NJAC powerhouse Stockton in the Profs’ lone action of the week. The rookie outside hitter recorded a match-high 19 kills while hitting an extraordinary .545 (19-1-33) on the night. She currently ranks fifth among all NJAC players in hitting percentage (.292) and kills (3.67/set), and is sixth in points (3.89/set).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BELLA DEMERS • William Paterson University
Sophomore • Libero • Maumee, OH/Maumee
Demers was selected as NJAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after totaling 37 digs (5.29 per set) with eight assists during a 2-0 week for the Pioneers. The sophomore libero recorded a match-high 16 digs while tying her season-best assist mark with six during a 3-0 home sweep of conference opponent Montclair State before posting a match-high 21 digs in a 3-1 home victory versus Muhlenberg. She continues to lead the NJAC by far in digs, averaging 5.65 per set to outpace the second-highest by nearly 1.2 per set.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
KAI FITZPATRICK • New Jersey City University
Junior • Outside Hitter • Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough
Fitzpatrick earned NJAC Rookie of the Week recognition following her record-breaking performance during a 2-0 week for NJCU, totaling 55 kills, 29 digs, five service aces and six reception errors in 72 attempts. She led the Gothic Knights past conference opponent Rutgers-Newark with 22 kills, four aces and eight digs in a 3-1 victory before recording a double-double against Saint Elizabeth with 33 kills and 21 digs in a five-set win, moving into 10th all-time for kills in a single match at NJCU. The rookie standout continues to lead the NJAC in kills per set by nearly a whole kill, averaging 4.83 to the second-highest 3.88. She is also the NJAC leader in points per set by nearly a whole point, averaging 5.54 to 4.56. The honor was her third weekly honor of the season, twice as Rookie of the Week and once as Player of the Week.