BALTIMORE – Notre Dame of Maryland University junior Paulina Hernandez was recognized Tuesday afternoon as the Colonial State Athletic Conference's Women's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week following a series of strong performances during the Gators' first three matches.

Sophomore Emma Mueller was also selected to the Weekly Honor Roll for volleyball after posting a strong all-around effort to begin the year, while senior Sara Morales was named to the CSAC's Women's Soccer Weekly Honor Roll after registering a hat trick during NDMU's 6-2 season-opening win at Gallaudet.

Hernandez (El Paso, Texas/Perry Hall) earns her second-career Defensive Player of the Week award after totaling 20+ digs in all three matches for the Gators, including a 23-dig performance during a season-opening 3-0 sweep at Goucher last Thursday. She added multiple aces in every match as well, delivering four aces (one shy of her career high) in a Saturday neutral site contest against Penn State Harrisburg.

Hernandez totaled 63 digs overall last week, finishing with 20+ digs for the third, fourth and fifth times in her collegiate career. She was previously honored by the conference on September 27 last season.

Mueller (Irrigon, Ore./Irrigon Senior) led NDMU in assists (49), ranked tied for first in aces (8) and was tied for fourth in kills (17) last week while also contributing 19 digs. Morales (Joppa, Md./Catholic), meanwhile, recorded her second-career hat trick in last Friday's season opener for the soccer team. The last of her three goals was the 10th of her collegiate career.

The soccer and volleyball programs both have their home openers for the 2022 season this Wednesday, as soccer hosts Trinity (DC) at 4 p.m. and volleyball takes on McDaniel at 7 p.m.