GNAC Rookies of the Week: February 22

By Melissa Maitland

GNAC Sports Information Specialist

Tessa Dudunake (Women’s Swimming, Elms), Tia Nelson (Women’s Basketball, Pine Manor), Max Vaughan (Men’s Volleyball, Lasell), and Ryan Williams (Men’s Basketball, Norwich) have been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookies of the Week.

ROOKIES OF THE WEEK

Women’s Swimming - Tessa Dudunake, Elms, Fr., Northampton, Mass.

Dudunake helped Elms to a 13th place finish at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships by scoring 54 points during the three-day event. Dudunake finished 4th in the 100-yard individual medley, setting a new school record with a time of 1:04.45, 6th in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.35), and won the consolation finals of the 50-yard freestyle (26.01). Dudunake was also a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished in 6th place, setting a new school record with a time of 1:44.97. This is the 5th time this season that Dudunake has been named as a GNAC Rookie of the Week. She was previously honored Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 25, and Feb. 1.

Women's Basketball – Tia Nelson, Pine Manor, Fr., Rockport, Mass.
Weekly Totals
Points (28/28.00 per game), Rebounds (7/7.00 per game) Assists (0/0.00 per game)

Nelson exploded for career and game-highs of 28 points, including shooting 7-13 from three-point range, and played all 40 minutes of Pine Manor’s 75-73 victory over St. Joseph (CT) on Feb. 20. Her 7th three-pointer tied the game at 68, capping a late 10-point comeback and securing the Gators first road win of the season. The freshman forward also pulled down 7 rebounds. Nelson finished the regular season ranked 10th in the GNAC in three-point field goals made (1.8 pg). This is the 1st time this season that Nelson has been named as a GNAC Rookie of the Week. Pine Manor finished the regular season in 11th place in the GNAC, with a conference record of 2-10 and an overall record of 2-18.

Men's Volleyball – Max Vaughan, Lasell, Fr., Wethersfield, Conn.
Weekly Totals
Kills (4), Assists (52), Digs (38), Blocks (2), Aces (13)

Vaughan played strong all week for the Lasers, averaging 3.17 digs per set, including 15 digs against Emmanuel, 11 against Emerson, 9 against Mount Ida, and 9 aces and 32 assists against Albertus Magnus. Vaughan also recorded a double-double against Emerson with 19 assists. Lasell went on to defeat Mount Ida, 3-0, on Feb. 15, Emerson, 3-0, on Feb. 19, and Albertus Magnus, 3-0, on Feb. 20. The Lasers lone loss of the week came against Emmanuel, 3-1, on Feb. 18. This is the 1st time this season that Vaughan has been named as a GNAC Rookie of the Week. Lasell is currently in 3rd place in the GNAC, with a conference record of 6-2 and an overall record of 11-5. Lasell next plays at Johnson & Wales on Feb. 24.

Men's Basketball – Ryan Williams, Norwich, Fr., Dallas, T.X.
Weekly Totals
Points (43/21.50 per game), Rebounds (8/4.00 per game), Assists (4/2.00 per game)

Williams led Norwich in scoring (21.5 ppg) for the week, scoring 20 points against Emerson and 23 points against Emmanuel. The Cadets defeated Emmanuel, 79-67, on Feb. 17 and lost to Emerson, 86-83, in overtime on Feb. 20. Williams is currently ranked 7th in the GNAC in three-point field goal percentage (.393) and 8th in three-point field goals made (2.2 pg). This is the 1st time this season that Williams has been named as a GNAC Rookie of the Week. Norwich finished the regular season with an 8-10 conference record and a 13-15 overall record, seeding them 7th in the GNAC Men’s Basketball Championship, which began on Feb. 23. In quarterfinal action the #7 seeded Cadets were defeated by the #3 seeded Emerson, 63-45.