AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College volleyball player Ashley Drzymala (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) has been named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for matches held October 5-12.

Drzymala, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, helped Daemen to a split of two road matches last week, falling at N.Y. Institute of Technology in four sets on October 9, before rebounding with a five-set win over Long Island University Post the following day.  Drzymala totaled 39 kills in 101 attack attempts in the two matches, hitting at a .178 clip.

In the loss to NYIT, Drzymala notched a team-high 15 kills and added seven digs and a pair of service aces.

Against LIU Post on Saturday, Drzymala came up with a huge effort.  She matched a career-high with 24 kills and established a new career benchmark with 18 digs for her fifth double-double of the season to lead the Wildcats to their fourth-straight win in five-set matches this season.  It also marked Daemen's first five-set win on the road since November 1, 2011 over Buffalo State College.

Through 18 matches this season, Drzymala leads the team with 233 total kills and an average of 3.53 kills per set, ranking third in the ECC in both categories.  She also ranks second among all ECC players in total service aces (39) and first in service aces per set (0.59).

The announcement today marks her second selection as ECC Rookie of the Week this season.  She had previously earned the weekly accolade for matches played September 8-13.

Drzymala and the Wildcats (9-9 overall, 4-1 ECC) are in action tonight on the road versus Roberts Wesleyan College before returning home this weekend to face Dowling College (Friday, October 16) and University of Bridgeport (Saturday, October 17).