WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College's Morgan Weeg (Goodyear, Ariz.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection, while Jarene Harberts (Naples, Fla.) was tabbed to the Second Team, it was announced today by the league.
Weeg becomes the first player in school history to earn the league's top player award and the first Shark to earn First Team honors in back-to-back seasons since Nikki Peltz was a First Teamer from 1996-98. The sophomore was one of the best offensive players in the nation, averaging 4.20 kills per set to rank 15th in NCAA Division III, while leading the GNAC. Her total of 416 kills in 99 sets over 30 matches is the second-highest single-season total in school history. The outside hitter was one of the most efficient hitters in the conference as well, standing 11th among league leaders with a .263 hitting percentage. A graduate of Agua Fria High School, Weeg was named the GNAC Player of the Week for the week of October 23-29 and was tabbed to the GNAC All-Tournament Team following a tournament that saw her spike for 15 kills, hit .462 and pick up nine digs in the quarterfinals vs. Suffolk University on October 31. The hitter registered double-digit kills in 26 of 31 matches, including a streak of 16 consecutive matches and put down 20 or more kills on four occasions. Weeg's 21-kill effort in three sets vs. Mount Holyoke College on September 9 is tied for the 19th-highest mark in the nation for a three-set contest. Weeg, who played for Livewire Club Volleyball, hit .200 or better 24 times and hit .304 while averaging 4.61 kills per set over a 12-match stretch from October 4 to November 2. The second-year player also posted six double-doubles for the year, including a season-high 14 digs to go with 10 kills vs. Bates College on September 30. The two-year standout ranked second on the team with 2.05 digs per set to go with 21 aces and 15 total blocks.
In just two seasons, Weeg has smashed 851 kills to put her among the school's all-time career leaders, while hitting .231 in 185 sets over 54 lifetime matches. Weeg also has 488 digs to stand among the school's career leaders in addition to 37 total blocks and 50 aces.
Harberts lands on the Second Team as one of the best hitters in the conference, averaging 3.07 kills per set to rank seventh among GNAC leaders and first among rookies. The first year player raised her level of play even more against conference foes, averaging 3.73 kills per frame in league-only matches to stand fourth in the GNAC. The Florida native was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week a league-high three times. The hitter owned a .196 hitting mark and showed her worth on the defensive side of the ball as well, picking up 2.01 digs per set for the third-best mark on the team. Harberts played in all 31 matches and saw action in 101 of 105 sets. The Seacrest Country Day School product was excellent from behind the backline with 31 aces and recorded 22 total blocks, including seven solos. Harberts registered a season-high 21 kills in just three sets vs. Albertus Magnus College on September 23 for the 19th-most in a three-set match in NCAA III this season and swung for 10 or more kills 17 times, while picking up double-digit digs in eight outings. The rookie turned in an outstanding effort in the GNAC Semifinals, putting down 15 kills, including the set winner in all three frames, to go with a .257 hitting mark and six digs vs. Rivier University on November 2.
Simmons finished the season with a 21-10 record, including 11-1 in league play, to establish school records for season victories and conference wins, and advanced to the GNAC Championship for the first time in school history. The Sharks closed out the season by winning 12 straight matches, before their season came to an end in the conference championship as the number two seed.