Former Clarion Bobcat Korrin Burns Named Named Northeast Conference Women’s Volleyball Player Of The Week For Her Performance In The Doubletree by Hilton Youngstown State University Invitational; Two Of Her Saint Francis University Red Flash Teammates Also Honored

on 30 August, 2023 at 15:56

Images courtesy of Saint Francis Athletics: (Above) 2023 Saint Francis Volleyball Team; Korrin in second row, second from left.

Former Clarion Bobcat, a member of the Saint Francis University Red Flash Volleyball Team, which plays in the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference has received a fine honor, being named the NEC/Molten Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week for the week ending Monday, August 28th. The NEC volleyball reporting period for this past week ran from from the start of the season (last Friday) through matches on Monday. Typically the week will run from Tuesday to Monday with winners being announced on Tuesday.

**Korrin Burns -Saint Francis University Volleyball 2023**

The Red Flash opened the tournament, at Beeghly Center, on Friday (August 25th) afternoon with a 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25, 15-11) win over Belmont. Korrin had 13 kills and 2 blocks in the match.

Later on Friday, St. Francis fell 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 18-25, 19-25) to Canisius. Korrin had 9 kills and 2 blocks in the contest.

Then on Saturday (August 26th), the Red Flash beat the host Penguins 3-1 (25-27, 26-27, 26-24, 26-24). Korrin had a monster match with 22 kills, giving her a whopping 44 kills in Saint Francis’ three matches on the weekend.

Two of Korrin’s Red Flash Teammates were also honored. Aubrey Deptula was selected Defensive Player of the Week. Both were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Skye Eicher.

(Congratulations to Korrin, Aubrey, and Skye and the others being honored this week!!!)

Following is the Saint Francis University Article and information from the Northeast Conference on the three Top Award winners and other awardees.

SOMERSET, N.J. – Members of the Red Flash women’s volleyball team are receiving recognition by the Northeast Conference (NEC) for the team’s success this past weekend at the YSU Invitational.

Korrin Burns (Clarion, Pa.) is this week’s NEC/Molten Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week. During Saturday’s win over Youngstown State, Burns tallied 22 kills, tying her career record. She already has 44 total kills through the first three matches.

This is the 14th time a Saint Francis player has received this award since 2003. The sophomore outside hitter received Rookie of the Week three times last season, but this is her first Player of the Week award.

Burns is joined by Aubrey Deptula (Boca Raton, Fla.), the NEC/Molten Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week. Both players were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Deptula was strong in front of the net for the Red Flash, recording 14 blocks this past weekend. Nine of the 14 blocks were made in the match against Youngstown State, including the match-winning block.

This is Deptula’s second time winning Defensive Player of the Week and the seventh time for Saint Francis since 2003.

Both Burns and Deptula also earned Prime Performer nods, as well as Skye Eicher (Rostraver Township, Pa.).

Eicher was a key part of the Red Flash offense, registering 45 kills this weekend and four service aces.

Saint Francis is currently 2-1, its first time starting 2-1 since 2003. Saturday’s win over Youngstown State was the first time since 2010 that the Red Flash beat the Penguins and the first time in program history that they have won at Beeghly Center.

The Red Flash will return to Stokes Center this weekend to host the Red Flash Classic, presented by Altoona Grand Hotel. Its first match of the two-day tournament will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1 versus Manhattan. Purdue-Fort Wayne and Stony Brook will participate in the tournament.

(Northeast Conference Information)

NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Korrin Burns, Saint Francis U
So., Outside Hitter, Clarion, PA/Clarion Area
Burns got her sophomore season off to a solid start this past weekend. Averaging 3.67 kills, 2.75 digs and 0.58 blocks per set, the outside hitter led Saint Francis U to a 2-1 record at the Doubletree by Hilton Youngstown State University Invitational, and she earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the process. A native of Clarion, PA, Burns delivered 13 kills in the Red Flash’s season opener, a thrilling five-set victory over Belmont on Friday. After recording nine kills and 13 digs in a three-set defeat to Canisius to cap off opening day, she recorded 22 kills — the most by an NEC player on opening weekend — and added 12 digs against Youngstown State on Saturday for her first double-double of the season. With the four-set victory, which marked the Red Flash’s first against the Penguins since 2010, Saint Francis U improved to 2-1 for the first time in program history. Burns’ 44 total kills are one short of teammate and NEC-leader Skye Eicher, while her 3.67 kills per set are good for second in the circuit.

NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aubrey Deptula, Saint Francis U
Sr., Middle Hitter, Boca Raton, FL/Boca Raton
Deptula was locked in on the defensive end to help lead Saint Francis U to a 2-1 record in its season debut at the DoubleTree by Hilton Youngstown State University Invitational. The veteran middle hitter from Boca Raton, FL averaged 1.08 blocks per set for the Red Flash, who are off to the best start in program history after posting a five-set win over Belmont on Friday and a four-set victory against Youngstown State on Saturday. Deptula delivered a monstrous performance in the tournament’s final match on Saturday, tying a career high in blocks with nine to lead the Red Flash past the Penguins for the first time since 2010. She enters the second week of the season leading the circuit in total blocks (14), while her 1.08 blocks per set are good for third overall.

NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Gaby Zovko, Sacred Heart
Fr., Setter, Bedford, MA/Bedford
Zovko put up impressive numbers against some stiff competition in her collegiate debut at the Boston College Invitational. The setter dished out 6.33 assists per set and averaged a league-best 0.67 service aces per set to pace Sacred Heart in its season opener against Big 10 foe Michigan and ACC member Boston College. A native of Bedford, MA, Zovko dropped 20 dimes and added a pair of service aces in her first-ever college contest, a three-set defeat to Michigan on Saturday. On Sunday against Boston College, she racked up her first career double-double after tallying 16 assists and 11 digs over that three-set span. Zovko enters the second week of the season ranked fourth in the NEC in assists per set and 10th in digs per set (2.67).

Korrin Burns, SFU (So., OH)

Named to the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Averaged 3.67 kills, 2.75 digs and 0.58 blocks per set
Posted a double-double on 22 kills and 12 digs in Saturday’s win over Youngstown State
Tabbed the NEC Player of the Week

Aubrey Deptula, SFU (Sr., MH)

Registered 1.08 blocks per set in matches against Belmont, Canisius and Youngstown State
Tallied nine blocks, the most by an NEC player in a game this season, in Saturday’s four-set win over Youngstown State
Earned NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors

Skye Eicher, SFU (Sr., OH)

Earned a spot on the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Averaged 3.46 kills and 2.38 digs per set
Ended the weekend with 13 kills and 14 digs for a double-double in a four-set win against Youngstown State
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Tatijana Fucka, FDU (Gr., MB)
Averaged 2.79 points, 2.17 kills and 1.08 blocks per set against Holy Cross, Kansas City and FAU at the FAU Invitational
Alasha Colon, LIU (Jr., L)
Named to the Temple Cherry & White Challenge All-Tournament Team
Led all NEC players with 6.20 digs per set against Lehigh, Iona and Temple
Registered a tournament-best 31 digs in a five-set defeat to Lehigh
Rumur Rouille, LIU (Jr., MB/OH)
Averaged a league-leading 1.25 blocks per set in matches against Lehigh and Temple at the Temple Cherry & White Challenge
Julz Carlat, MC (Jr., MO)
Named to the Binghamton Bearcat Classic All-Tournament Team
Led all NEC hitters with 3.90 kills and 4.20 points per set, adding 2.80 digs per set in Merrimack’s 1-2 week
Registered a double-double on 21 kills and 13 digs in a four-set win over Saint Peter’s
Cate Wright, MC (So., OH)
Delivered 3.00 kills and 2.90 digs per set at the Binghamton Bearcat Classic
Gaby Zovko, SHU (Fr., S)
Dished out 6.33 assists per set against ACC opponent Boston College and Big 10 foe Michigan
Added 2.67 digs per set and led all NEC players with 0.67 service aces per set
Registered a double-double (18 assists, 11 digs) against Boston College
Named the NEC Rookie of the Week
Korrin Burns, SFU (So., OH)
Named to the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Averaged 3.67 kills, 2.75 digs and 0.58 blocks per set
Posted a double-double on 22 kills and 12 digs in Saturday’s win over Youngstown State
Tabbed the NEC Player of the Week
Aubrey Deptula, SFU (Sr., MH)
Registered 1.08 blocks per set in matches against Belmont, Canisius and Youngstown State
Tallied nine blocks, the most by an NEC player in a game this season, in Saturday’s four-set win over Youngstown State
Earned NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors
Skye Eicher, SFU (Sr., OH)
Earned a spot on the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Averaged 3.46 kills and 2.38 digs per set
Ended the weekend with 13 kills and 14 digs for a double-double in a four-set win against Youngstown State
2023 NEC/MOLTEN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 29: Korrin Burns (Saint Francis U)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 29: Aubrey Deptula (Saint Francis U)
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 29: Gaby Zovko (Sacred Heart)