LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for March 2, 2026. Today will include Players of the Week from men's volleyball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, baseball awards as well as the first week of softball awards.
This week’s selections included contests through Sunday, March 1. A total of nine student-athletes from four different member institutions were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Volleyball
Offensive Player of the Week
Trey Edmonds / JR / Neumann University / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley
Trey Edmonds had 28 kills and hit .333 in a 1-1 week for the Knights. Against Cairn in the United East opener, the junior had 15 kills and hit .357 in a 3-0 loss. He followed with 13 kills in a 3-0 win over Hood the following evening.
This is Edmond's first United East weekly accoalde of the season and his third overall (02/24/25, 02/03/25).
Defensive Player of the Week
Camden Sterner / JR / Wilson College / Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove
Sterner led the back line of the Phoenix defense by totaling 39 digs and averaging 13 per match over the previous week. He picked up nine in a midweek road trip to Wilkes. On Saturday, he added a dozen in a win against Averett and 18 more in a four-set battle at Randolph.
This is Sterner's first United East weekly accoalde of the season and his third overall (04/08/24, 01/29/24).
Baseball
Player of the Week
Dante Ruby / SO / Keystone College / Archbald, Pa. / Valley View
Ruby posted a .526 batting average (10-for-12) with a 1.053 slugging percentage and seven RBI as Keystone opened the 2026 season with a 4-2 record. The sophomore infielder recorded five hits and four RBI during the team's four games at the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He stood out in the Giants’ win over Westfield State, collecting four hits and driving in two runs.
This is Ruby's first ever United East weekly accoalde.
Pitcher of the Week
Fisher Druck / SR / Penn State Harrisburg / Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township
Penn State Harrisburg starting pitcher Fisher Druck was outstanding in his lone start of the week, helping lead the Lions to a 6-4 victory over UMass Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon. The senior did not surrender a run and allowed just two hits and two walks while racking up a season-high nine strikeouts in six innings of work to record his first win of the young season and secure the 20th win of his career.
This is Druck's first United East weekly accoalde of the season and his fourth of his career (03/03/25, 04/03/23, 03/11/23).
Softball
Player of the Week
Katelyn Keller / SO / Wilson College / Orrtanna, Pa. / Gettysburg
Keller had an absolutely stellar week to open the season and leading Wilson to a 6-0 start to the season. In five games at the plate, she had splits of .600/1.892/1.267 after going 6-for-15 from the plate, with five RBI, 10 runs, one home run, three triples, one double, and a walk. Her on-base percentage stands at .625, and she was a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen bases. Her total base count already stands at 19. The three 3-baggers also vaulted her into first place for triples among active players despite being three games into her sophomore season. Keller led off the year with an inside-the-park home run with three RBI and two runs at Gallaudet. On Sunday, she went a perfect 4-for-4 with two triples and three runs in the win against Massachusets Maritime.
This is Keller's first ever United East weekly accoalde.
Pitcher of the Week
Elena Worthington / JR / Wilson College / Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg
Pitching has largely by committee to start the season in Wilson's 6-0 start with four mercy-ruled shortened games, but it has been excellent nonetheless with Worthington emerging as one of the leaders. In three appearances with two starts, she sported a 0.58 ERA with a WHIP of 1.08 while allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits and nine strikeouts. Opposing batters hit just .178 while Worthington was credited with two of the wins.
This is Worthington's first ever United East weekly accoalde.
Women’s Lacrosse
Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week
Gina Jaffurs / SR / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Leonardtown, Md. / St. Mary's Ryken
Gina Jaffurs was the bright spot for the Seahawks in a 24-5 loss at Christopher Newport. Jaffurs led the way with a goal and an assist plus five draw controls, three ground balls, and three caused turnovers. All of Jaffurs' stats are season-bests.
This is Jaffurs' first ever United East weekly accoalde.
Men’s Lacrosse
Offensive Player of the Week
Gavin McKay / JR / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Urbana, Md. / Urbana
Gavin McKay continues to lead the Seahawks offensively as McKay put up four goals and an assist in SMCM's 14-8 win over Hampden-Sydney, who came into the game having received votes in the latest USILA poll. He also added two ground balls. The four goals and five points match his career-bests.
This is McKay's first ever United East weekly accoalde.
Defensive Player of the Week
Hunter Shank / SR / Pitt-Bradford / Hubert, N.C. / Swansboro
Hunter Shank made 33 saves in a 1-1 week for Pitt-Bradford. In the Overtime win over Juniata, he made 20 saves and collected 2 ground balls.
This is Shank's first ever United East weekly accoalde.
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.