October 9, 2006 - Jeary Honored by the MAAC

October 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Volleyball
Rider’s Jeary Honored by the MAAC

LAWRENCEVILLE—Can you dig it?  Rider freshman Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary’s) was awarded the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for all matches played October 2-8, after posting back to back 20-plus dig efforts.

A 5’5” defensive specialist, Jeary recorded 33 digs in a four-game conference win over Marist.  The 33 digs are the highest four-game total in the conference this season.

Against Saint Peter’s Jeary finished the match with 24 digs, the third highest three-game dig total in the MAAC this season.

“It’s great to receive an award like this,” said Jeary, a business major at Rider.  “But I don’t see it as an individual award it is more of a team award.  I can’t be successful without my teammates doing their job on the court.  All of the players are about how we do as a team and not what we do as an individual.”

For the week, Jeary had an 8.14 digs per game average and also owns the highest three-game dig total in the conference with her 29 dig effort at Iona on September 29.

“Jeary was moving very well and reading the hitters very well,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist.  “She has really stepped up into the key areas that we have needed.  She has improved and worked very hard all year and we are proud that she has been recognized for her efforts.”

Rider (6-11, 4-4 MAAC) is currently 15th in the nation averaging 18.72 digs per game with Jeary leading the conference with a 5.10 digs per game season average and a 6.14 digs per game conference average.

“The whole team helped Amy get this award,” Ahlquist added.  “They cover their respective areas so that she can do what she is supposed to do.  The communication that we do on the floor and the players working together as one unit helped her get this recognition.  This is definitely a team award.”

The Broncs have split each of the first four weekends on the 2006 conference schedule.

“Being tied for fourth in the conference through eight matches, with having eight first-year players on the roster is a good accomplishment,” Ahlquist said.  “That speaks a lot to the determination that the team has.  We are still young and while we are playing better, we are still learning.  We need to be more consistent and that will come as we play the final 10 games of the conference season and head into the playoffs.”

Rider hosts Canisius and Niagara on Saturday and Sunday in a pair of MAAC matches.

-RU-