NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) has named The College of New Rochelle volleyball outside hitter Fabiola Padilla Rios (San Juan, PR/University Gardens) its Student-Athlete of the Month for the month of September, the conference released recently.
Padilla Rios has made an immediate impact for the Blue Angels in her rookie season, helping lead The College of New Rochelle to a 15-4 record in September, with the Blue Angels closing out the month by winning 15 of their last 16, with 13 coming in straight sets. On the month, the outside hitter led the team in kills (167), kills per set (2.78), digs (233), and digs per set (3.88). She was also second on the team in aces (48) and aces per set (0.80) while adding 17 assists and four total blocks. The one-time AD3I Player of the Week and two-time ECAC Division III Metro/Upstate Rookie of the Week posted a season-high 19 kills in a 3-0 win over Manhattanville College, a three-set match program record. Padilla Rios registered a season-high 24 digs against Alvernia University, and served up a season-high nine aces in a triumph over the College at Old Westbury. The freshman tallied six double-doubles, slamming home ten or more kills seven times and digging up ten or more balls in 11 matches. The San Juan, Puerto Rico native hit .252 for the month and is currently ranked in the top 10 among all Division III schools in aces per set and total aces, and ranks among the conference leaders in kills, digs and aces.
The College of New Rochelle returns to the court this weekend, traveling to Union, NJ to participate in the Kean Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Blue Angels will take on the host school and Messiah College on Friday, and Plymouth State and Penn State Behrend on Saturday.
