Army West Point Athletics
Lightsey Named Rookie of the Week for Second-Straight Week
September 15, 2026 | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Freshman outside hitter Marlee Lightsey earned her second Patriot League weekly award on Tuesday, named Rookie of the Week for the second straight week.
Lightsey is the first Army player since 2016 to be named Patriot League Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks. The last was Allie Strong, who received the honor consecutively on Sept. 6 and Sept. 13, 2016.
The plebe earned the honor after finishing last week with 22 kills with a .288 hitting percentage. Lightsey also added 14 digs, three aces, one block and a .926 reception percentage at the Hofstra Invitational.
In Army's win over Liberty, Lightsey finished with 11 kills on a .450 hitting percentage, plus five digs and one ace.
In three sets the rookie played against Hofstra, she added seven kills with a .636 hitting percentage, a career-best clip for the freshman so far in her young career.
Lightsey and the Black Knights will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. ET inside Gillis Field House, taking on the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds to mark the start of Patriot League play.
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
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
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
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.
