Bransford Named AEC Speciality Player of the Year; Marywood Takes Three Major Awards

Leah Zambetti captures AEC Elite Scholar Athlete Award

Haddonfield, N.J. — Marywood University garnered three major Atlantic East Conference volleyball awards, officials announced Tuesday. The Pacers placed four student-athletes on All-Conference teams.

Freshman setter Ayla Bransford was selected the Atlantic East's Specialty Player of the Year. Leah Zambetti earned the Atlantic East Elite Scholar Athlete Award. Marywood also claimed the Atlantic East Coaching Staff of the Year.

Taylor Hallam and Catie Woolf joined Bransford on the All-Atlantic East First Team. Carolina Samaniego was selected to the Atlantic East Second Team.

Bransford led the Atlantic East with 901 assists, averaging 9.76 per set during conference play. She finished eighth in the conference with 55 service aces, averaging .52 per set. Bransford also contributed 211 digs and 33 blocks. Nationally, she ranks 59th in total assists, 74th in assists per set and 102nd in aces. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native ranked second all-time at Marywood in single-season assists. Bransford was named Atlantic East Specialty Player of the Week four times with three weekly honor roll nods. Bransford's award is the second Player of the Year honor in program history — the first since Rebecca Hokien won Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors in 1992.

Zambetti, a senior, earned the Atlantic East Elite Scholar Athlete award. Formerly named the Elite 20 award, this honor is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing at the finals site at each of the Atlantic East's championships. The Yatesville, Pa. native is majoring in CSD Speech-Language Pathology with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to Marywood, who are led by Head Coach Maegen Eddinger and assistant coaches Ashleen Speen and Mikayla Bayly. The Pacers posted a 25-5 record, matching a program best, which was highlighted by earning the No. 2 seed in postseason play. Marywood reached the conference finals for the first time in 32 years. Under Eddinger's tutelage, Marywood was also awarded the Rookie of the Year alongside three first team and two second team honors this season. It is the third coaching award in program history. Sue Dempsey (1993) and Jennifer Newton (2002) previously won PAC Coach of the Year honors.

Hallam led the conference in hitting percentage (.312), total blocks (89), blocks per set (0.85). She finished with 290 kills, averaging 2.76 per set. Nationally, she ranked 100th in hitting percentage, 104th in ponts (398.5), and 105th in total blocks. It is the third all-conference award for Hallam. At Keystone, she was selected Second Team All-United East in 2023 and 2024. Hallam was the United East Skye Rookie of the Year in 2023.

Woolf ranked second in the Atlantic East with 4.68 digs per set, totaling 473 on the season. The sophomore libero was 16th in the conference with 0.42 service aces per set. In NCAA Division III, Woolf ranked 91st in digs pet set and 100th in total digs. It is the second career all-conference honor for Woolf. At Keystone, she was selected to Third Team All-United East.

Samaniego, a freshman, garnered all-Atlantic East honors in her first season as an all-around player. In the Atlantic East, she ranked fifth in points (3.29 per set), eighth in kills (2.7 per set), ninth in aces (.48 per set), 12th in digs (2.46 per set), and 14th in hitting percentage (.154). The Laredo, Texas native totaled 254 kills, 231 digs, 45 aces, and 18 total blocks.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Taylor Hallam: MB; 6' 0"; Junior

#14 Ayla Bransford: S; 5' 4"; Freshman

#22 Carolina Samaniego: OH; 5' 7"; Freshman

#23 Catie Woolf: DS; 5' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Taylor Hallam
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MB

#14 Ayla Bransford
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: S

#22 Carolina Samaniego
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: OH

#23 Catie Woolf
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: DS