NEW YORK, N.Y. – Four Sarah Lawrence College Gryphons earned Week 6 Skyline Conference weekly honors, for games played October 5-11, as announced by the conference on October 12. Women's volleyball standouts Nikolet Vataj, Kai Perkins, and Caroline Combs were recognized following an impressive four-match stretch, while women's soccer standout Chloe Barker earned conference honors after a productive week on the pitch.
Vataj earned her third Skyline Conference Player of the Week award of the season, while Perkins and Combs each collected their fourth weekly honors of the year, earning Libero of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Barker claimed her first career Skyline Conference Offensive Player of the Week award.
Barker earned her first career Skyline Conference Offensive Player of the Week award and her third overall conference honor, adding to the two Rookie of the Week awards she received in 2024.
The women's soccer standout delivered four goals across three matches during the week. Barker scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in Sarah Lawrence's 3-0 victory over Manhattanville College, playing 75 minutes. She followed that performance with another two-goal effort in a dominant 9-0 win over St. Joseph's University–Brooklyn, finding the back of the net twice in just 24 minutes of action. Barker also played 57 minutes in the Gryphons' matchup against Vassar College.
Barker's offensive production helped fuel a pair of decisive victories for the Gryphons, as she continued to make an impact in the attacking third.
Women's soccer returns to action on Saturday, October 17, traveling to Mount Saint Vincent for a Skyline Conference matchup scheduled for 12 p.m.
Vataj earned her third Skyline Conference Player of the Week award of the season after a dominant four-match stretch in which she recorded 80 kills and 49 digs, including three double-doubles. Her performance was highlighted by a program-record 30 kills in Sarah Lawrence's five-set victory over FDU-Florham.
Vataj opened the week with 13 kills, three service aces, and three digs in a sweep of the University of Mount Saint Vincent. She followed with 14 kills and 11 digs in a straight-set win over SUNY Old Westbury.
Against Elizabethtown College, Vataj recorded 23 kills, 16 digs, one assist, one ace, and one solo block to help the Gryphons secure a four-set victory. She capped the week with 30 kills and 19 digs in the five-set win over FDU-Florham, setting a new Sarah Lawrence program record for kills in a match.
Her consistent offensive production and ability to contribute across the court helped lead the Gryphons through an impressive four-match stretch. Vataj earned Player of the Week recognition for three consecutive reporting periods: September 14–20, September 28–October 4, and October 5–11.
Perkins collected her fourth Skyline Conference Libero of the Week award of the season after delivering a remarkable week defensively, highlighted by tying the Sarah Lawrence program record with 44 digs in the five-set victory over FDU-Florham.
Perkins began the week with 11 digs and one assist in a sweep of Mount Saint Vincent before recording 14 digs, three kills, four assists, and one ace against Old Westbury. She added 18 digs, one ace, and one assist in the four-set win over Elizabethtown.
Against FDU-Florham, Perkins anchored the Gryphons' defensive effort with 44 digs, tying the program record, while also contributing three assists and one service ace.
Her defensive consistency and court coverage played a key role in Sarah Lawrence's success throughout the week, particularly in the team's hard-fought five-set victory to close out the stretch. Perkins previously earned Libero of the Week honors for September 7–13, September 14–20, and September 28–October 4, making this her fourth recognition of the season.
Combs rounded out the women's volleyball honorees after a strong all-around week, totaling 66 kills, 63 digs, and 10 service aces across four matches while averaging a .305 hitting percentage. She also contributed defensively at the net with five solo blocks.
Combs opened the week with an impressive performance against Mount Saint Vincent, recording 17 kills on a .538 hitting percentage, seven aces, seven digs, and two solo blocks in a straight-set win. She followed with 13 kills, 10 digs, one ace, and one solo block against Old Westbury.
In the four-set victory over Elizabethtown, Combs registered 17 kills, 20 digs, one ace, and one solo block. She closed out the week with 19 kills, 26 digs, one assist, one ace, and one solo block against FDU-Florham.
Combs' offensive efficiency, combined with her ability to contribute as both an attacking threat and a defensive presence, helped the Gryphons maintain their momentum throughout the four-match stretch.
The honor marks Combs' fourth Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week award of the season. She previously received the recognition for September 1–6, September 14–20, and September 28–October 4.
The women's volleyball team returns to action Tuesday, October 13, hosting Yeshiva University at Campbell Sports Center for a 6 p.m. Skyline Conference matchup. The contest will be dedicated to Dig Pink, supporting breast cancer awareness.
With four Gryphons earning weekly conference recognition, Sarah Lawrence continues to showcase the individual talent and team-wide contributions driving both programs forward.
