WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College women's volleyball player Emmee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.) was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England and Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Week, it was announced by both leagues. Ashby was tabbed for the third straight week and has earned the honor a league-high four times for the GNAC. She also earned the award for the week of September 22-28. The award marks the third time she has been selected by the ECAC.
In three matches and 10 sets, the first year averaged 2.8 kills and 3.75 points per set, while hitting a mighty .397 to go with 12 total blocks, including three solos, serving up a pair of aces and picking up seven digs. The middle blocker began the week by spiking for 16 kills, while posting a career-high .464 hitting mark to go with three digs and two total blocks, including a solo to help the Sharks hand Emmanuel College its first conference loss on October 23. A graduate of Payson High School, Ashby capped the week with a GNAC tri-match, taking on host Suffolk University and Mount Ida College on October 25. The six-foot middle put down four kills on a .214 hitting percentage and added three digs and a pair of solo blocks in the team's 3-0 victory over Suffolk and smashed eight kills, while registering a .438 attack percentage in addition to firing a pair of aces, picking up a dig and getting up for a career-best eight block assists vs. Mount Ida.
Ashby is one of two players on the team to play in all 88 sets and has started all 24 matches. She has been one of the top offensive players in the conference the entire season, ranking second among GNAC leaders with 3.00 kills per set, while standing third with 3.6 points per set and a .295 hitting mark. The rookie has been a force at the net on the defensive side as well, averaging 0.65 blocks per set to place ninth among league leaders. She has been very consistent, swinging for seven or more kills on 20 occasions, while hitting .200 or better in all but four matches as well. She put away a career-high 22 kills in a 3-2 win over Saint Joseph's College (Maine) on October 18.
Simmons has won eight straight matches and 11 of its last 14 as part of an 11-13 overall record, while finishing the conference slate with a 9-2 mark. The Sharks will be in action again on Thursday, October 30 when they travel to Worcester, Mass. to take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 7:00 p.m. Simmons has also clinched a home playoff spot in the GNAC Tournament Quarterfinals with the opponent to be determined.