Point Park Volleyball garners River States Conference honors for three players

PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University volleyball had three players earn River States Conference honors for the 2023 season. The awards were voted on by the head coaches in the RSC.

The Pioneers had Eden McElhaney named to the All-RSC Second Team, Ashlynn Gulakowski named to the All-RSC Third Team and Lily Marchand named to the RSC Champions of Character Team. 

Each of the All-RSC teams featured 14 players regardless of position. New this year was a third team instead of first and second teams followed by honorable mention. 

McElhaney led Point Park's honorees this year in her first season since transferring from NCAA Division I Marshall (W.Va.) University. She earned her spot on the All-RSC Second Team by leading the Pioneers in kills and was second in digs as one of the top all-around players in the RSC. She played in and started all 28 matches for the Pioneers playing nearly every point of the entire season. 

A junior outside hitter and six-rotation player, McElhaney ranked 14th in the RSC with 280 kills (a team high) and 14th with 346 digs (second on the team). She was also busy on serve-receive with 620 total receptions on the year, one of the only hitters to have so many. McElhaney was one of only four players in the conference with at least 200 kills, 300 digs and 600 receptions, a group that included RSC Player of the Year Jessica Swimm from IU East. 

Gulakowski, a senior setter, finished off her two years at Point Park with another all-conference honor. She moved up from honorable mention last year to All-RSC Third Team this year. In a two-setter rotation, Gulakowski had a career-high 498 assists and 5.08 assists per set. She ranked 11th in the RSC for both total assists and assists per set. There were only two setters on the first team and three each on the second and third teams. 

A native of Pittsburgh, Gulakowski transferred to Point Park last year from NCAA Division II California (Pa.). In her senior season, she went over the 1,000-career assist mark and ended with 1,077 over four years of her college career. Of that, 969 came at Point Park. Her senior year also included 47 kills, 111 digs, 12 aces and 22 total blocks.

Marchand, a sophomore defensive specialist, was Point Park's selection to the RSC Champions of Character Team. One player was chosen from each school for best exhibiting the NAIA's five character values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Marchand became a key player for the Pioneers in her second year having career highs of 228 digs and 393 receptions in the back row, both of which were third on the team. Marchand played in all 28 matches and 99 of the 102 sets on the year. 

For the complete listing of All-RSC Teams & Awards, click here.