AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College volleyball player Meghan Ballou (Eden, N.Y. / Eden) has been named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the week for matches played October 3^rd through October 9^th.  The announcement was made via the league's weekly report which was released this afternoon from conference headquarters in Central Islip, N.Y.  This is the third time a Daemen player has won this accolade, the most in the league.
 
Ballou, a 6-foot freshman outside hitter, helped Daemen earn two conference victories last week, improving the Wildcats to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in the league. Daemen ousted long-time rival, Roberts Wesleyan College in four sets at Lumsden Gymnasium on Tuesday, October 4.  The Wildcats traveled to the University of Bridgeport on Sunday for a battle between the second and third ranked teams.  Daemen beat the four-time defending conference champions 3-1, to overtake second place in the ECC.
 
Against the Redhawks, Meghan had 11 kills for a team-high .269 hitting-percentage.  She added five digs and a team-high four blocks in the win.  She continued to excel against the Purple Knights, leading the team in kills (13), aces (4), and blocks (3).  Her 13 kills and four service aces were good for career highs.  The production over the weekend earned Ballou her first double-digit kill contests of her career.
 
For the season, Meghan is tied for second on the team in blocks with 21 and ranks sixth in kills with 71.
 
Fellow freshman teammate, Bailey Dolegowski (Marilla, N.Y. / St. Mary's of Lancaster) has previously won Rookie of the Week honors for the weeks of September 26- October 2 and August 29- September 5.
 
Ballou and the Wildcats travel out of state to New Hampshire for non-conference action against Franklin Pierce on Friday.  Followed by a two-match day on Saturday, against the host Mercy College and out of conference opponent Saint Anselm College.
 
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