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News Release

UMBC VOLLEYBALL’S EMILY BERMAN AND MEGAN GROSS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES

9/13/2004

Emily Berman earned her first ever conference accolade being named America East Player of the Week on Monday.

Boston, Mass. – The America East Conference today announced UMBC Volleyball’s Emily Berman (Towson, Md./Towson) and Megan Gross (Montclair, Va./Forest Park) took two of three all-conference awards as Berman was tabbed America East Player of the Week and Gross was named America East Setter of the Week for the week ending September 12.  Berman and Gross both represented the Retrievers on the all-tournament team at the William & Mary Invitational this past weekend.

Berman, a freshman from nearby Towson, Md., had a stellar week for the Retrievers, averaging 5.43 kills per game and a hitting percentage of .400 as UMBC extended a season-long win streak to four straight and placed second at the William & Mary Invitational over the weekend.  Berman in four matches recorded 76 kills, 10 service aces, 10 digs and four total blocks (1 solo, 3 assisted).  Berman, who last season injured her shoulder just six matches into the year and sat out the rest of the season, was named to the All-Tournament team at the William & Mary Invitational averaging 5.50 kills per game and a .375 hitting percentage at the two-day, three match event.  She recorded a career-high 22 kills against host school and tournament champion William & Mary trumping her 21-kill performance earlier in the week against St. Francis (Pa.).  For the season she is averaging 4.42 kills per game and a .307 hitting percentage. 

Gross directed the Retriever offense to three wins on the as the junior setter recorded 172 assists (12.29 per game) last week in four matches played.  Gross went over the 40-assists mark in three of the team’s four matches and recorded 12.80 assists per game (128 total assists) at the William & Mary Invitational en route to earning All-Tournament accolades.  Against St. Francis (Pa.) to open the week Gross handed out 44 helpers in the four-game match.  She went on to recorded 37 assists against Hampton in the tournament opener, 44 in the three-game match against Loyola (Md.) and a season-high 47 assists in the four-game match against William & Mary.  Gross finished the week with 36 digs, including 12 against Loyola (Md.), eight service aces, and five total blocks (1 solo, 4 assisted).  For the season she has 296 assists, a 10.96 per game average.

The awards are the first for UMBC Volleyball this season and Berman’s first ever conference accolade.  It is Gross’ third time she has been named setter of the week by the conference, earning the honors twice last year.