NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Three Wilmington University Lady Wildcats earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Player of the Week honors for the second straight week, as announced by the conference office on Monday.
After leading their team to a 2-1 record while hosting the 2023 Wildcat Regional Invitational, sophomore middle Shannen Litten was named the CACC Player of the Week while senior libero Elly Collins was named a CACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Leading her team to a 0-0 draw with regionally ranked Saint Anselm, Mio Nakajima was named the CACC Women's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week as well.
Shannen Litten (Leonardtown, Md.), a sophomore middle hitter, led the block party at the net for the Wildcats in a 2-1 weekend while hosting the Wildcat Regional Invitational. She collected 16 total blocks, going for three solo and 13 block assists, good enough for a 1.33 per set average. She was third on the team with a 2.58 kills per set average and second overall on the team with 3.5 points per set. Litten put down 14 kills with only one error while hitting .448 against Queens, adding four blocks. She had six total blocks in each match against Kutztown and Molloy, adding nine kills against Kutztown and eight kills against Molloy. She hit .368 with only three errors this weekend.
Elly Collins (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), a senior libero, led the back row with 59 digs in three matches, helping the team go 2-1 at the Wildcat Regional Invitational. She averaged 4.92 digs per set over the weekend. Collins had a weekend high 22 digs in a 3-1 win against Molloy, adding three aces. She also had 19 digs against Kutztown with two aces and 18 digs against Queens. Collins continues to lead the CACC in averaging 5.36 digs per set this year.
Mio Nakajima (Osaka, Japan), a junior goalkeeper, was the backstop for the women's soccer team in their lone game of the week on Sunday afternoon. She made eight stops, shutting out regionally ranked Saint Anselm in a 0-0 draw. She needed to make diving stops while tipping the ball over the crossbar on two occasions on Sunday to keep the Hawks off the board. She is now second in the CACC with 0.33 goals against average in three matches.
Junior setter Katie Bushong (Lancaster, Pa.) and freshman outside hitter Cailyn Smiley (Montgomery, Ill.) were named to the CACC Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll this week as well.