Gallaudet lands three on All-United East teams, Lewis named Player of the Year, Wright picked for Rookie of the Year

LATHAM, N.Y. – The United East Conference announced its 2021 Women’s Volleyball All-Conference selections and Gallaudet University landed three players on the first and second teams and took home two major awards. Senior outside hitter Karita Lewis (Frederick, Md.) was named Player of the Year while sophomore opposite Emily Wright (Auburn, Calif.) was picked as Rookie of the Year.

Lewis and Wright were all-conference first team selections while senior opposite Elina Rubinshteyn (Austin, Texas) landed on the second team.

This is the third all-conference honor for Lewis and second straight appearance on the first team. She was a second team selection in 2018. Lewis ranks 12th in NCAA Division III for total attacks (1,167), 17th in total kills (396), 61st in attacks per set (10.42), 70th in kills per set (3.54) and 88th in points per set (3.96). Lewis surpassed 1,000 kills and digs for her career this season. She currently has 1,283 kills and 1,159 digs in four seasons. Lewis is second in the United East for kills (396), third in kills per set (3.54) and fourth in points. Lewis has also excelled in the classroom where she is a three-time conference Scholar-Athlete.

Wright makes her first appearance on the United East all-conference team after a season where Wright was named United East Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week three times (Sept. 20, Sept. 27, Nov. 1). Wright ranks 11th in NCAA Division III for total kills (428), 22nd in total attacks (1,089), 38th in kills per set (3.86), 81st in points per set (3.98) and 119th in attacks per set (9.81). Wright leads the United East in kills (428), kills per set (3.86) and second in hitting percentage (.271), points (442) and points per set (3.98). Wright earned conference Scholar-Athlete honors last year.

Rubinshteyn makes her first appearance on the United East all-conference team. She ranks seventh in the United East for hitting percentage (.217), total kills (296) and eighth in kills per set (2.69) and ninth in points per set (2.83). Rubinshteyn ranks 128th in NCAA Division III for total kills (296) and 170th in total attacks (839). In four seasons she has tallied 549 kills, 133 digs, 63 blocks and 20 assists.

Penn St.-Berks senior libero Marie Durkota was named United East Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year while her coach, Jessie Franko, was honored with United East Coach of the Year honors. Penn St.-Berks posted an undefeated 8-0 mark in conference play and will host this weekend’s…