TROY, N.Y. – First-year Shannon McGrath of the Union College women’s volleyball team capped off an excellent rookie season with her third Liberty League Rookie of the Week award of the 2022 season, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Combined with one Performer of the Week award in September, McGrath was recognized four times by the Liberty League in seven weeks of competition this season, the most awards for any Liberty League women’s volleyball player in 2022. The first-year actually earned Rookie of the Week in each of her last three weeks of the season, taking the honor in early October before missing three weeks of action and returning for the final two weeks of the year.
McGrath combined for 31 kills (3.8 kills per set) and 16 digs in leading Union to its first Liberty League Tournament victory since 2015. After missing the team’s 3-0 regular-season loss to William Smith College, she put down 17 kills with eight digs and a block as sixth-seeded Union upset the third-seeded Herons in five sets in Tuesday’s first round. She then added a match-high 14 kills and eight digs in the semifinals against second-seeded Clarkson University on Friday.
Despite playing in only 79 sets this season, McGrath finished her rookie season with a team-leading 283 kills and 47 service aces to go with 194 digs and 22 assists. She ranks third in the Liberty League in both kills per set (3.58) and service aces per set (0.59) and also sits second among all conference players in points per set (4.23). Nationally, she ranks eighth among first-years in points per set and 51st overall.
With McGrath leading the way, Union finished the 2022 season with a 13-15 record and reached the Liberty League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
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