Women's Volleyball | 9/23/2026 10:27:08 AM

Story courtesy of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College junior libero Gaby Fernandez was named the PrestoSports NAIA Women's Volleyball Defender of the Week after anchoring the Pomeroys' defense during a memorable three-match stretch.

The Arecibo, Puerto Rico, native amassed 88 digs and averaged 7.33 digs per set while adding 13 assists and four service aces. Fernandez successfully handled 63 of her 65 reception attempts for a .969 reception percentage.

Fernandez, who leads the NAIA in digs per set this season, also recorded the most total digs in the association during the week. She finished with at least 20 digs in all three matches, including a career-high 40-dig performance.

Fernandez opened the week with 21 digs, three assists and two aces in SMWC's sweep of No. 22 IU Kokomo. Her defensive presence helped keep the Pomeroys in system as they snapped the Cougars' 56-match River States Conference winning streak.

She followed with a career-best performance against Kansas Wesleyan, collecting 40 digs across five sets for an average of eight digs per set. Fernandez also contributed seven assists and two aces in the narrow five-set setback.

Fernandez capped the week with 27 digs and three assists as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods defeated Governors State in four sets. She committed only two reception errors throughout the three-match stretch.

The national recognition follows Fernandez's selection as the River States Conference Women's Volleyball Defender of the Week.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods returns to conference play Friday, Sept. 25, when it travels to Owensboro, Kentucky, to face Brescia University. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT.