AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College volleyball players Katie McKrell (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) and Ashley Drzymala (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) have earned weekly accolades from the East Coast Conference as announced this afternoon via the ECC weekly volleyball report.  McKrell, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, was named ECC Setter of the Week, and Drzymala, a 5-foot-10 freshman, was named ECC Rookie of the Week for matches played October 19-25.

McKrell and Drzymala led Daemen to a pair of home victories last week as the Wildcats took down conference foes Roberts Wesleyan College (Tuesday, October 20) and Mercy College (Sunday, October 25).  The victories, both three-set affairs, gave Daemen a sweep of their season series against both opponents, and they have the Wildcats positioned in fourth place in the ECC standings at 7-3 (12-11 overall), as they continue to work towards the program's first-ever ECC Tournament berth.

McKrell accumulated 76 assists in the two wins, averaging 12.67 assists per set for the week.  She also chipped in 15 digs, four kills and two blocks.  McKrell totaled 42 assists in Tuesday's win over RWC - her sixth match this season with at least 40 helpers.  She went on to tally 34 assists on Sunday versus Mercy, and has now recorded 30 or more assists in 16 of the Wildcats' last 19 outings.  Daemen is 11-5 in her 30-assist matches this season.

For the season, McKrell has racked up 797 assists to rank fourth among all ECC players.  She also ranks fourth in the league in assists per set (9.72) this year.  Today's announcement marks the third time this season that McKrell has been named ECC Setter of the Week.  She previously earned the honor for matches played September 8-13 and September 21-27.

Drzymala continued her fine rookie campaign, adding 22 total kills to run her team-leading season total to 288.  She currently ranks second in the league in total kills, third in kills per set (3.51) and second in service aces (51). 

Against RWC, Drzymala recorded her eighth double-double of the season (10 kills, 10 digs), six of which have come in the team's last nine outings.  The Wildcats are 5-3 in matches where Drzymala records double-doubles this year.

In the win over Mercy, Drzymala tied for match-high honors with 12 kills, while adding eight digs.

Drzymala is no stranger to these weekly accolades as well, as she's now been named ECC Rookie of the Week four times, including in the last three successive weeks.  She previously earned the honor for matches played September 8-13, October 5-12 and October 13-19.

McKrell, Drzymala and the rest of the Wildcats are back in action later this week when they visit Queens College (Friday, October 30) and Molloy College (Saturday, October 31) in a pair of ECC contests.