CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - After leading Albany to a 2-0 weekend, the Great Danes' Sarah Pope and Gabby Whitworth earned America East volleyball Player of the Week and Setter of the Week respectively, while Stony Brook freshman Melissa Rigo continued her impressive first year, being named Rookie of the Week for the fourth time.

Pope (Jenks, Ohio) led the Great Danes to two wins in conference play, leading the conference in kills per set (4.71) and ranking second in hitting percentage (.492) last week. Pope hit .417 with 13 kills against Binghamton, before recording a career-high 20 kills on .543 hitting against UMBC. She also recorded three digs and two blocks against the Retrievers, to help the Great Danes move to 4-0 in league play.

Whitworth (Kailua, Hawaii) continued her strong play as UAlbany's setter, averaging 11.00 assists per set (third in the conference), and quarterbacking the Great Danes to a league-best .296 hitting percentage. In a sweep of Binghamton on Friday, Whitworth recorded 30 assists, to go along with seven digs and five kills. Whitworth, who also served up two aces, quarterbacked the Great Danes to a .354 team hitting percentage against the Bearcats. In a four-set win against UMBC, Whitworth completed a double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs, while also recording four blocks, two kills, and two aces.

Rigo (East Northport, N.Y.) ranked second in the conference last week, averaging 4.57 kills per set and helping Stony Brook to a 1-1 record. The freshman outside hitter posted 17 kills at UNH and then followed up with 15 kills and 11 digs in a three-set sweep at Providence. The double-double was her eighth of the season, and she has posted double-digit kills in each of her 17 matches this year. Rigo has consistently averaged 4.38 kills per set this season, which is tops in America East.

Notes
New Hampshire won its seventh-straight match, beating Stony Brook on Friday night... ... Albany has won 47 of its last 50 America East matches... Stony Brook has been led by standout freshman Melissa Rigo, who continues to lead the conference with 4.36 kills per set. The last time a freshman led the conference in kills per set was Maine's Leah Voss in 2000.

2012 America East Volleyball Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 27 - Player of the Week: Melissa Rigo (Stony Brook); Setter of the Week: Taylor Dunklau (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Melissa Rigo (Stony Brook)
Sept. 4 - Player of the Week: Sareeta Nethersole (Hartford); Setter of the Week: Taylor Dunklau (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Melissa Rigo (Stony Brook)
Sept. 10 - Player of the Week: Morgan Thatcher (New Hampshire); Setter of the Week: Taylor Dunklau (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Melissa Rigo (Stony Brook) 
Sept. 17 - Player of the Week: Sherelle Walker (UMBC); Setter of the Week: Mallory McIntyre (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Sherelle Walker (UMBC)
Sept. 24 - Player of the Week: Morgan Thatcher (New Hampshire); Setter of the Week: Amanda Dettmann (Binghamton); Rookie of the Week: Brenna Buckwalter (New Hampshire)
Oct. 1 - Player of the Week: Morgan Thatcher (New Hampshire); Setter of the Week: Jansan Falcusan (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Sherelle Walker (UMBC)
Oct. 8 - Player of the Week: Sarah Pope (Albany); Setter of the Week: Gabby Whitworth (Albany); Rookie of the Week: Melissa Rigo (Stony Brook)