NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference named University of Maryland Eastern Shore middle blocker Lilliana Montes MEAC Player of the Week, libero Valeria Matias MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, and setter Jayda Hutchins MEAC Rookie of the Week on Monday, Oct. 6. 

MEAC Player of the Week Lilliana Montes

Montes led the Hawks to a 2–0 week, recording 21 kills, five aces, five digs, and nine blocks. Against Norfolk State, she paced the Hawks with 14 kills and six blocks while also adding three service aces. The sophomore from Murrieta, California, averaged 4.0 kills per set and 1.7 blocks per set in UMES' two weekend matches. 

Montes ranks second in the conference with a .326 attack percentage and fourth in the conference with 0.92 blocks per set.

Montes is the first Hawk to win MEAC Player of the Week in the 2025 season. This is her third recognition from the conference in her career, joining her MEAC Rookie of the Week and MEAC All-Rookie team honors last season.

MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Valeria Matias

Matias was a steady presence for the Hawks' defense, amassing 32 digs over two matches. The senior from Ponce, Puerto Rico, tallied her 14th and 15th double-digit dig performances of the season en route to helping UMES defeat Norfolk State and Howard. 

Matias ranks second in the MEAC with 4.03 digs per set and second in overall digs with 270 and sits just 20 digs away from eclipsing the second most career digs in UMES history.

This is her second MEAC Defensive Player of the Week award this season.

MEAC Rookie of the Week Jayda Hutchins

Hutchins totaled 14 kills, 34 assists, seven service aces, 20 digs, and six blocks across two wins. The Freshman from Henderson, Nevada, recorded 15 assists and 11 digs versus Norfolk State. She followed that up by finishing one dig shy of a triple-double with 19 assists, 10 kills, and nine digs against Howard, earning her fourth consecutive double-double.

Hutchins ranks fifth in the MEAC with 5.45 assists per set, fourth with 365 assists, and fourth with 25 service aces.

This is Hutchins' third MEAC Rookie of the Week award this season.

For the first time in the Vanessa Faircloth era, the Hawks tallied three MEAC weekly award winners in one week. The previous high was two back on Sept. 22.

For the full list of MEAC women's volleyball weekly award winners and top performers:  Weekly Volleyball Honors

Follow Along

Keep up with the latest from UMES volleyball on UMESHawkSports.com and by following along on X (@UMESHawksVball) and Instagram (@umeshawksvball).