GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina middle hitter Kaya Merkler and NC State outside hitter Taylor Rowland have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball Co-Players of the Week, while Georgia Tech outside hitter Bianca Bertolino has been selected as Freshman of the Week.
Merkler powered North Carolina to road sweeps over Boston College and Syracuse last weekend. The sophomore from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, racked up 23 kills on a .618 hitting percentage and added four blocks and two digs across the two matches. Her week was highlighted by a 15-kill effort against Syracuse with a .700 hitting percentage.
A junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, Rowland helped NC State to road wins over Syracuse and Boston College. The Wolfpack outside hitter finished the weekend posting back-to-back double-doubles compiling 29 kills (.343) and 21 digs. Rowland recorded a season-high tying 18 kills with 10 digs while hitting .368 in the match against Syracuse.
Bertolino shined in Georgia Tech’s sweeps of Clemson and Duke. The rookie Yellow Jacket tallied 16 kills while hitting at a .419 clip and added 17 digs, two aces and two blocks on the weekend. Bertolino’s best effort came against Boston College when she recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs with a .444 hitting percentage.
2021 ACC Volleyball Players of the Week
Aug. 31 – Julia Bergmann, Jr., OH, Georgia Tech
Sept. 7 – Kayla Lund, Gr., OH, Pitt | Marina Markova, Jr., MB, Syracuse
Sept. 14 – Chinaza Ndee, Sr., RS, Pitt
Sept. 21 – Anna Stevenson, Gr., MB, Louisville
Sept. 28 – Mariana Brambilla, Sr., RS, Georgia Tech
Oct. 5 – Anna Stevenson, Gr., MB, Louisville | Aubrey Hamilton, So., OH, Notre Dame
Oct. 12 – Julia Bergmann, Jr., OH, Georgia Tech
Oct. 19 – Kaya Merkler, So., MH, North Carolina | Taylor Rowland, Jr., OH, NC State
2021 ACC Volleyball Freshmen of the Week
Aug. 31 – Bianca Bertolino, OH, Georgia Tech
Sept. 7 – Bianca Bertolino, OH, Georgia Tech
Sept. 14 – Elena Scott, L, Louisville | Jada Allen, MB, NC State
Sept. 21 – Elena Scott, L, Louisville
Sept. 28 – Elena Scott, L, Louisville
Oct. 5 – Khori Louis, MB, Florida State
Oct. 12 –Mabrey Shaffmaster, OH, North Carolina
Oct. 19 – Bianca Bertolino, OH, Georgia Tech