Week 9: AAC Women's Volleyball Players of the Week

October 23, 2023

WALESKA, Ga. - Raquel Kessler of Union is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Volleyball Attacker of the Week, while Ella Maiden of Milligan and Rylee Simpson of Truett McConnell are the Defender and Setter of the Week, respectively.

The league announced the awards on Monday.

This is the eighth edition of the awards for the 2022 season. The next set of awards will be announced on Oct. 23.

AAC Attacker of the Week
Raquel Kessler - Union - Senior - Jackson Center, Ohio.

Averaged 4.42 kills per set and posted a .376 hitting percentage as Union went 3-0 for the week.
Logged 23 kills in a 3-2 win at Kentucky Christian.
Had 17 kills in a 3-0 win at Tennessee Wesleyan.
Had 53 kills, 14 digs, 2 aces, and 11blocks.
This is her second weekly honor of the season.

AAC Defender of the Week
Sarah Sweet - Reinhardt - Graduate Student - Canton, Ga.

Averaged 5.67 digs per set as Reinhardt went 2-0 on the week.
Posted a high of 23 digs in a 3-0 win against Truett McConnell.
Recorded the 1,000th dig of her career in the match against Truett McConnell.
Finished with 34 digs, 12 assists, and 3 aces.
This is her third weekly honor of the season.

AAC Setter of the Week
Ashlynn Barnes - Reinhardt - Sophomore - Roswell, Ga.

Averaged 12.67 assists per set as Reinhardt went 2-0 on the week.
Posted a high of 42 assists in a 3-0 win against Truett McConnell.
Had 76 assists in 6 sets.
Also had 3 kills, 4 service aces, 18 digs, and 1 block on the week.
This is her third weekly honor of the season.

Previous Weekly Winners
Week 1 - Katherine Perrin, Reinhardt (attacker); Sarah Sweet, Reinhardt (defender); Ashlynn Barnes, Reinhardt (setter)
Week 2 - Kira Rymer Attaway, Columbia International (attacker); Ella Maiden, Milligan (defender); Melissa Campos Soto, Columbia International (setter)
Week 3 - Hanah Weiss, Columbia International (attacker); Kelcey Mangum, Columbia International (defender); Rylee Simpson, Truett McConnell (setter)
Week 4 - Katherine Perrin, Reinhardt (attacker); Elliott Brock, Bryan (defender); Rylee Simpson, Truett McConnell (setter)
Week 5 - Kira Rymer Attaway, Columbia International (attacker); Lydia Gustafson, Columbia International (defender); Ashlynn Barnes, Reinhardt (setter)
Week 6 - Katie Dickey, Attacker (attacker); Sarah Sweet, Reinhardt (defender); Kolbie Greene, Milligan (setter)
Week 7 - Hanah Weiss, Columbia International (attacker); Maddy Taylor, Johnson (defender); Kolbie Greene, Milligan (setter)
Week 8 - Raquel Kessler, Union (attacker); Ella Maiden, Milligan (defender); Rylee Simpson, Truett McConnell (setter)
Week 9 - Raquel Kessler, Union (attacker); Sarah Sweet, Reinhardt (defender); Ashlynn Barnes, Reinhardt (setter)