WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College's Julia Fusco (Beverly, Mass.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Libero of the Week for the week of October 9-15, it was announced today by the league. The award marks the second straight week that she has been a recipient of the honor and is the only player in school history to have earned the award multiple times since it was instituted for the 2016 campaign.
Fusco was a defensive dynamo in a pair of matches for the Sharks, averaging 6.00 digs per set over six sets, while firing a pair of aces, setting for two assists and putting down a kill. The first year was flawless on the backline as well, receiving 21 serves without a miscue. The Bishop-Fenwick High School graduate began the week with 14 digs, an ace, a kill and two assists, while handling nine serves without fail in a 3-0 victory over Lasell College on October 11. Fusco capped the week with 22 digs to register a career-best total in three-set matches and added an ace, while receiving 12 service attempts without an error in a 3-0 road win against Emerson College on October 13.
The libero is one of four players and one of two rookies on the squad to have played all 79 sets over 23 matches and currently stands seventh among league leaders and second in the rookie class with 3.82 digs per set. Fusco ranks fifth for Simmons with 21 aces, while putting up 34 assists for the season. She also owns a .864 receiving percentage. The first year player has registered double-digit digs in all but six matches, including 20 or more on four occasions and a season-high of 23 in a five-set contest at Gordon College on September 12. Fusco has been the consummate libero over the last four matches, averaging 5.58 digs over 12 sets, while committing just one reception error in 56 opportunities for a sterling .982 success mark.
The Sharks have currently won five straight matches, including 15 consecutive sets and boast a 14-9 overall record, including 7-1 in league play to stand second in the league standings. Simmons returns to action on Wednesday, October 18 when it hosts cross-street and GNAC rival Emmanuel College at Moore Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. start.