Army West Point Athletics
Lightsey Earns Fourth Rookie of the Week Honor
September 29, 2026 | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Freshman outside hitter Marlee Lightsey continues stacking accolades on Tuesday, earning her fourth straight Patriot League Player of the Week honor.
With the honor, Lightsey ties the Army Volleyball record for most consecutive Rookie of the Week honors at four. She now shares the record with Olivia Fairfield, who won the award four consecutive weeks in October 2013, and Abby Casciato, who won it four weeks in a row in 2002.
Lightsey now holds the second-longest streak in Patriot League history of earning the honor, with the longest streak belonging to American's Rebecca Heath, who earned the honor five times in a row in 2008.
The plebe earns her fourth recognition after finishing the week with a team-high 28 kills (4.00 k/s) plus team-best three aces and two blocks to finish with a team-high 32.0 points (4.57 p/s).
Defensively, she finished with 29 digs (4.14 d/s) with a .939 reception percentage on 49 attempts.
In both games played, Lightsey earned a double-double, the second and third of her career. She has earned double-doubles in all three of Army's Patriot League wins.
Against Colgate, Lightsey finished with 11 kills and 12 digs, while adding two aces and one block. She had a career day at Holy Cross, where she earned 17 kills and 17 digs, both career-highs, while adding one ace and one block.
Lightsey and the Black Knights are back on the road on Friday, October 2 at 6 p.m. ET as they head to Davis Gymnasium in Lewisburg, Pa., to play the Bucknell University Bison. Then they return to Gillis Field House on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. ET to play Lafayette.
For fans who cannot make it to either game, both games 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
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
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
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.
