STORRS, Conn.- Four Huskies took home 2024 BIG EAST regular season awards, the conference announced Tuesday. Standout libero McKenna Brand (Lucas, TX) was named co-Freshman of the Year, along with Xavier's Margo Kemp. Brand was also named to the All-Freshman Team. UConn also had three selections to the all-conference team. Doga Kutlu (Ankara, Turkey), Taylor Pannell (Middletown, N.Y.), and Emma Werkmeister (Victor, N.Y.) were all selected, with Kutlu being a unanimous selection. 

Brand finished second in the conference with 4.40 digs/set in conference play, fourth overall throughout the season with 3.95 digs/set. The freshman from Lucas, Texas recently won BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (11/25), and Defensive Player of the Week (11/18). Brand registered double-digit digs in 24 of the 30 matches this season, one of only three Huskies to play in all matches. In addition to her strong defensive play, Brand also had 25 service aces and 84 assists on the season, good for second and fourth on the team, respectively.

A unanimous selection, Kutlu starred in her senior season. As setter for the Huskies, Kutlu averaged 9.98 assists per set, fourth in the BIG EAST. The senior from Turkey eclipsed 40 assists in 10 matches, this year, and recorded over 50 twice overall, with a season-high 54 against UAlbany. Kutlu also finished fourth in the conference in service aces (0.40/set), with a season high 6 in the win over St. John's on Nov. 22^nd.  Defensively, Kutlu had a large role as well, with 3.29 digs/set (7^th in BE), second behind Brand for the Huskies. In a win over Villanova on (10/19), Kutlu had 51 assists and 32 digs, the latter being the most by an individual in a BIG EAST match this season. 

Werkmeister got off to a roaring start in 2024, averaging 3.93 kills/set and 0.40 service aces/set to help UConn get off to a 15-2 start, leading the nation in aces early in the season, with a single-game high 7 in a win over Brown on 9/20. The junior from Victor, N.Y. was instrumental in the improbable comeback win over Colgate in September, with 29 kills and 10 digs. Werkmeister suffered an injury on October 9^th against Providence, missing 7 matches. She returned on November 2^nd and led the UConn attack in the final three matches of the season, with 44 kills and 14 digs total in the three straight-set victories. Werkmeister finished the season averaging 3.77 kills/set, 0.57 aces/set, and 1.59 digs/set, notching double-digit digs in three matches. 

The longest tenured Husky on the roster, Pannell played and started in 28 matches this season. The graduate student from Middletown, N.Y. led the Huskies on both ends of the floor, with 2.73 kills per set, and 0.77 blocks per set. Pannell finished second on the team with 273 kills overall, hitting at a .320 clip.  In a win over St. John's on 10/19, Pannell had 9 blocks, which earned her Defensive Player of the Week in the conference. Pannell cemented herself in program history, currently ranking sixth all-time in blocks with an even 400, and eighth in hitting percentage at .262. 

UConn hits the floor tomorrow night in Omaha, Nebraska against Villanova in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal round at 6pm on BEDN/Flo Sports.