New Jersey City University Athletics

Bella Sunahara was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for week nine of the season and  is NJCU Women’s Athlete of the Week for the second time in her career and second straight week.

She continues to lead the Gothic Knights from the libero position, as she registered 20+ digs in all three matches last week as NJCU went 2-1 overall in its final three home matches of the season. Sunahara averaged a sensational 6.70 digs per set, producing 67 digs in 10 sets, while adding six service aces (0.60 per set). 

Sunahara has now defended 20 or more digs in five consecutive matches and for the fifth, sixth and seventh times this season and she has reached double figures in digs in 14 of her 20 career matches. 

In a loss to Rowan on October 21, Sunahara had 21 digs in three sets (7.00 per set), three aces and just one reception error, while landing a kill in her only attempt. 

On October 26, NJCU swept a non-conference tri-match with Maritime and FDU-Florham. In a 3-0 win over Maritime, she had 20 digs in three sets and one ace. In a 3-1 win over FDU, she finished with 26 digs—one shy of her career high—four assists and two aces.