SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 6, 2025) – Western New England women's volleyball outside hitter Charlei Henkel has been named the Conference of New England Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Week following another outstanding performance on the court, helping the Golden Bears to a CNE win and putting down a career-high in kills. 

Henkel opened the week in a five-set match against Nichols College, coming away with seven kills, 11 digs, and a block in a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Bison for Western New England's first Conference of New England victory of the season. The next night, Henkel asserted her dominance on the court, picking up a new career-high with 16 kills on 48 attacks, hitting .167 from the floor against Colby-Sawyer College. Henkel registered a set assist, three service aces, 17 digs, and a pair of blocks at the end for the Golden Bears, earning WNE 20.5 points in the match, also a career high. The Centerton, Arkansas native ended the weekend with nine kills and no errors in a four-set match against Johnson & Wales University, attacking 26 times and hitting to a .346 attack percentage for the afternoon, also a career best. Henkel collected seven digs, a service ace, and a block in the match for the Golden Bears.  
Henkel has recorded 144 kills on the season over 492 attacks, hitting .183 from the floor. The first-year standout ranks second on the team with 212 digs, leads the team with 3.42 digs per set, and has 11 total blocks for the year. 

The Western New England women's volleyball team returns to the court this coming Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00 PM for a Conference of New England match with Gordon College at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.