Army West Point Athletics
October 27, 2026 | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Junior libero Nicole Stroud received her second Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season on Tuesday.
The Fort Worth, Texas native becomes the second player in the Patriot League to earn the honor this season, with Bella Marrero from American being the only other player to received the Defensive player of the Week honor more than once.
Stroud served as the backbone to Army's back line while on the road at American and Loyola Maryland, including in Army's four set win over the Greyhounds on Saturday, Oct. 24.
She finished with a team-best 33 digs (4.71 d/s) while adding a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 35 attempts. She also added a team-best six aces through the two matches. In Army's win over Loyola Maryland, Stroud finished with a team-high 18 digs and a career-high five service aces.
She is currently fifth in the Patriot League, averaging 4.19 digs per set. She also leads Army in digs per set, a team that averages a league-best 16.74 digs per set, a mark that is also ranked tenth in the nation.
Stroud and the Black Knights return to Gillis Field House for the first time since Oct. 10 on Oct. 30, when they take on the Holy Cross Crusaders for the second time this season. The game set slated for a 7 p.m. ET first serve.
For fans who cannot make it to Gillis Field House, the game will stream live on ESPN+.
Player of the Week
9.1 – lise Sterling, American, Jr., Middle Blocker
9.8 – Ufuoma Omene, Lehigh, Sr., Right-Side
9.15 – Tiana Owens, Colgate, Jr., Outside Hitter
9.22 – Farrah Eike, Navy, Jr., Outside Hitter
9.29 – Ellen Gundlach, Navy, So., Middle Blocker
10.6 – Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., Setter
10.13 – Salme Hollas, American, Sr., Outside Hitter
10.20 – Emma Soreensen, Holy Cross, So., Outside Hitter
10.27 – Olivia Lasee, Lehigh, Sr. Middle Blocker
Defensive Player of the Week
9.1 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero
9.8 – Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., Libero
9.15 – Lacey Murphy, Holy Cross, Jr., Middle Blocker
9.22 – Amara Chambers, Navy, Jr., Defensive Specialist/Libero
9.29 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero
10.6 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero
10.13 – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., Libero
10.20 – Katie O'Sullivan, Bucknell, Jr., Libero
10.27 – Nicole Stroud, Army West Point, Jr., Libero
Rookie of the Week
9.1 – Kat Teepe, Holy Cross, Fr., Right-Side
9.8 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., Outside Hitter
9.15 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., Outside Hitter
9.22 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., Outside Hitter
9.29 – Marlee Lightsey, Army West Point, Fr., Outside Hitter
10.6 – Marion Haskell, Bucknell, Fr., Opposite
10.13 – Kat Teepe, Holy Cross, Fy., Right Side
10.20 – Drew Flanagan, Holy Cross, Fr., Setter
10.27 – Drew Flanagan, Holy Cross, Fr., Setter
About the Patriot League
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
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Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
