Rider University Athletics

Lawrenceville, NJ – Rider university senior women's volleyball player Veronica Koval (Allentown, PA/Parkland) was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon as announced by the league office.

Koval, a Preseason All-MAAC selection, is the first Bronc to earn league-wide distinction this season and she picked up weekly honors for the first time in her career.

"I thought Veronica did an amazing job last weekend making our offense flow," Rider Head Coach Chris Feliciano said. "She put her hitters in a ton of great hitting situations where the block was late of where they had one-on-one opportunities. It's important to recognize and she'll be the first to say that all things start with our first touch in serve receive and defensively. Our team is starting to come together and both our first and second touches are at the center of that."

Koval averaged 9.79 assists per set last week as Rider went 2-2 at the 12th Annual Friar Classic. She had 35 or more assists in two matches, including a career-high 55 in a four-set win over Fairleigh Dickinson. She had two double-doubles during the week and averaged 2.57 digs per set. Koval had a season-high 19 digs in the win over the Knights. In her final appearance of the week, she had a season-high six kills to go along with 38 assists, one ace and 14 digs.

This season, Koval has topped the 2,000 career assist plateau and she is currently fifth in program history with over 2,200 assists. Koval, the 2016 MAAC Setter of the Year, has recorded 30 or more assists in a game three times and recorded 10 or more digs three times as well. She is fourth in the MAAC with just under eight assists per set and her 287 total assists rank third in the league.

The Broncs return to action on Tuesday, September 12, with a road non-conference clash against Fairleigh Dickinson. The tilt is the final tune-up for Rider before conference play begins this upcoming weekend. To follow live stats and video for the match visit the women's volleyball schedule page on GoBroncs.com.