Malpica Named ECC Player of the Week

11/3/2025 2:00:00 PM

AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen University senior outside hitter/right side Nahirka Malpica (Caguas, P.R.) has been named the East Coast Conference Women's Volleyball Player of the Week for the period of October 27-November 2, the league office announced today.

Malpica played a key role both offensively and defensively for the Wildcats, helping them to a 2-1 record last week. She totaled 26 kills and 38 digs across three conference matches, averaging 2.6 kills and 3.8 digs per set.

Malpica opened the week by recording eight kills (on a .500 hitting percentage) and 15 digs during Daemen's 3-0 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 29. She posted eight kills, six digs and a block in a 3-0 loss at Molloy on Nov. 1, and followed that with her seventh double-double of the year, finishing with 10 kills and 17 digs to go with three service aces in a 3-1 win at Queens on Nov. 2.

It marks the second straight weekly award for Malpica who was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week for October 20-26. It's also the sixth ECC weekly award of Malpica's career, and her third Player of the Week selection.

Malpica, who was named the ECC Preseason Player of the Year in August, leads Daemen in total digs (237) while ranking second in total kills (242). She is averaging 2.89 digs and 2.95 kills per set, and is one of only two players in the ECC to rank among the league's top 10 leaders in both of those statistical categories.

In addition to Malpica's selection, sophomore outside hitter Avery Craig (Tomball, Tex.) was named to the ECC Weekly Honor Roll. Craig averaged 2.83 kills per set with a .361 hitting percentage in Daemen's two weekend matches. She equaled her career-high with 11 kills and a season-high 16 digs in the win over Queens, which marked her first double-double of the season and the second of her career.

Daemen returns to action with a pair of home matches this weekend. The Wildcats welcome conference foes St. Thomas Aquinas (Saturday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m.) and Mercy (Sunday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m.) to Lumsden Gymnasium.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's volleyball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWVB.

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