TROY, N.Y. – For the third time this season, first-year Shannon McGrath of the Union College women’s volleyball team has earned a weekly honor from the Liberty League, as she was tabbed as the conference Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday.
The outside hitter bookends October with Rookie of the Week honors after previously earning the award on October 3. She also was named the conference Player of the Week on September 12 and remains the only volleyball first-year to earn Liberty League Player of the Week honors so far this season.
After missing the last six matches, McGrath came back with a huge weekend at the Skidmore College Invitational, averaging 5.0 kills per set with 50 kills on .257 hitting with 34 digs and four aces in a 2-1 weekend for Union. She had a massive match to begin the weekend against SUNY Potsdam on Friday with 25 kills and 18 digs, recording the most kills by a Union player in over 20 years and one of the top totals ever by a rookie at the school. She came back on Saturday with 16 kills on .353 hitting in a 3-1 win over Plattsburgh State University, and then put down nine kills in less than two full sets in a 3-1 win over Russell Sage College.
McGrath enters the postseason leading the team with 252 kills and 44 service aces as a first-year, in addition to ranking second on the team in digs (178) and fourth in assists (22). At the end of the regular season, she ranks third in the Liberty League in kills per set (3.55) and aces per set (0.62) as well as second in points per set (4.23).
McGrath and Union will make their first postseason appearance since 2016 tomorrow night in the first round of the Liberty League Tournament against William Smith College at 6 p.m. A tournament preview will be available tomorrow morning on UnionAthletics.com
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