Emory University senior outside hitter Morgan McKnight (Manassas, VA) and freshman setter Cassie Srb (Seabrook, TX) have been recognized by the University Athletic Association as Players of the Week following their efforts at NCAA Atlanta Volleyball Regional. It is the third time this season and fifth in her career that McKnight has been tabbed for the honor while Srb is selected for the first time. The pair helped Emory to a first-place finish at the Regional, propelling the squad in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships.
McKnight was named Most Outstanding Player of the Atlanta Regional after leading all players with an average of 5.00 kills over 10 sets of play while turning in a blazing .414 (50-9--99) hitting percentage. In addition, she averaged 1.00 digs and 0.70 blocks per game. McKnight led the Eagles in kills in all three matches, starting with a 10-terminations, .833 hitting percentage (10-0--12) effort in a sweep against Notre Dame of Maryland University. She followed that outing with a career-high 21 successful attack attempts, hitting .319 (21-6--47) in the process, while chipping in three block assists in a 3-1 decision over No. 20 Transylvania in the semifinals. In the title match against No. 8 Colorado College, McKnight pounded out a match-high 19 kills and posted a hitting mark of .400 (19-3--40) in a sweep of the Tigers, which upped Emory's overall record to 32-2 and that sent it into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships.
On the year, Morgan has logged 25 contests (15 straight) of 10 or more kills and leads the UAA in that category with a per-set average of 3.36.
Srb's precision-like setting helped Emory hit .303 over the three matches, averaging 13.1 assists over 10 sets of action. In addition, she averaged 1.60 digs and contributed a pair of service aces. Srb dished out 38 assists in a sweep of Notre Dame of Maryland University, a match where Emory hit .557 (48-4--79), in the regional opener, and followed that with a stellar 53-assists, eight-digs contest in a 3-1 triumph over No. 20 Transylvania in the semifinals. Against No. 8 Colorado College in the championship match, Srb finished with 40 assists, five digs and four kills, as the Eagles prevailed by a 3-0 count.
Srb is averaging 10.97 assists per set, good for the No. 2 spot on the UAA ladder.
Emory, 32-2 on the season, will square off against Clarkson in the quarterfinals of the Championships on Thursday (Nov. 21) starting at 1:30 pm (EST). The Championships will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.