Links:  CAA release & award winners

RICHMOND, Va. – Paving the way while leading the program to a tie for the most CAA regular season victories this spring, five members of the Northeastern volleyball team have garnered year-end conference awards, as announced by the league on Friday.
 
Senior playmaker Samantha Shupe headlined the Huskies' award class as the CAA Setter of the Year, becoming the first NU player to receive the honor since 2016 (Kristen Walding). Sophomore attackers Nailah Jenkins and Erica Staunton were jointly selected to the All-CAA First Team, second-year libero Kayla Martin earned All-CAA Second Team praise and freshman Defne Arliel celebrated her nod on the CAA All-Rookie Team.


 
Shupe was the integral piece to Northeastern's energizing attack that posted the second highest kills per set average (13.09) and hitting percentage (.239) in the CAA. The senior sported the league's fourth best assists per set mark (7.67) – elevating her career assists tally above 2,800 – in addition to averaging 2.21 digs and 0.36 aces per set.
 
Jenkins set the season tone for the Huskies in the middle, from where she posted the conference's second highest hitting percentage (.379) and third best blocks per set average (1.47). Behind the service line, the NU sophomore led all CAA players in aces per set (0.50), dialing up 16 aces across nine matches.
 
Joining Jenkins on the All-CAA First Team, Staunton compiled the third highest kills per set average (4.15) among the league's attackers. The two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week hit .246 for the season and totaled 137 kills, peaking with her 20-kill performance during the Huskies' Feb. 25 victory against Merrimack.
 
Defending the back row for Northeastern, Martin averaged the fourth most digs per set (4.67) in the CAA while delivering 11 aces. Twice named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week, the sophomore libero recorded 20 or more digs on three occasions, highlighted by her 27-dig, three-ace match during the Huskies' March 5 win at Hofstra.
 
Arliel turned heads during her first season at Northeastern, registering 2.36 kills and 2.42 digs per set within the NU rotation. The first-year outside hitter notched two double-doubles during the course of the spring, earning CAA Rookie of the Week honors after charting 12 kills and 11 digs during Northeastern's March 14 victory against Delaware.
 
Together, the Huskies' award class will look to lead Northeastern to its first league title this week at the 2020-21 CAA Volleyball Championship. NU will face James Madison during the semifinal round on Friday, April 2, at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to Saturday's championship match at 3 p.m.
 
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