A pair of area college freshmen volleyball players received recognition for their play by taking home rookie of the week honors from their respective conferences.
Towson University middle blocker Alysha Fanning earned top rookie honors in the Colonial Athletic Conference after recording 20 blocks in three matches, while leading the Tigers to the Best Western South Florida Invitational championship last weekend.
Coppin State freshman Kanisha Sheppard (Broadneck High School) earned the same award in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last week. She was also named to the George Washington Invitational All-Tournament Team after totaling 41 kills in three matches played.
TOWSON
Christina Grempler (Severna Park) was named as tournament MVP at the Best Western South Florida Invitational championship last weekend after averaging nearly 12 kills in three matches. The Tigers next play Friday, when they open their CAA schedule against visiting James Madison.
NAVY
The Midshipmen fell to 0-4 after dropping a five-game match to host Elon at the Phoenix Classic last weekend. Nikki England paced the Mids? offense with 18 kills and added 10 digs.
UMBC
The Retrievers (3-2) dropped their home opener on Tuesday to Delaware (8-0) in three sets. Sarah Fillmore tallied 10 kills, Kira Giles recorded 32 assists and Jennifer Wylie recorded 25 digs for UMBC. The team now travels Friday to play at the University of Washington tournament, where it will face the reigning national champion Huskies.
GOUCHER
Margaret Egiziaco had 20 kills and 17 digs, as the Gophers topped Hood in four games for their first season-opening win since 1999. The win was also the first for new coach Mike Bossom, who came to the school after leading Howard County power Centennial to eight high school state titles, including the Class 3A crown in 2005.
MCDANIEL
Senior Jamie Bodden recorded 49 assists in two matches to lead McDaniel to a split at the season-opening Mizuno volleyball Classic, hosted by Elizabethtown on Saturday. The Green Terror (1-1) fell to the host Blue Jays before coming back to sweep Pitt-Bradford.
VILLA JULIE
The Mustangs opened their season with two straight wins in the Lancaster Bible College tri-match.
