SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 9, 2026) – Western New England women's volleyball's Charlei Henkel, men's ice hockey's Nikita Volsky, and women's swimming's AJ Jackson have been named Golden Bear Athletes of the Week this week, with Henkel closing out the season in style, while both Volsky and Jackson continuing their excellence in their sport. 

Henkel helped WNE women's volleyball take a road victory this past week at Suffolk University, producing 15 kills on 41 attacks, hitting .220 for the match. Henkel also picked up four blocks for the Golden Bears, a season-high, while coming up with 13 digs on the defensive side of the ball to lead the Blue and Gold. Henkel's final match of the season saw the sophomore come away with just two attacking errors, dropping down seven kills in a conference match against Roger Williams. Henkel also picked up a set assist, a pair of service aces, and 12 digs in the match to conclude the season. Overall, the Centerton, Arkansas, native collected 210 kills during her second season as a Golden Bear, hitting .145 from the floor and collecting 223 digs. 

Volsky was a big part of Western New England's home opener last Saturday evening, playing in a full 60-minute effort against Salve Regina. Despite the loss on home ice, Volsky made a career-high 47 saves between the pipes, allowing just two goals. The Minsk, Belarus, native picked up a .959 save percentage in the game. Volsky has a .902 save percentage through two starts this season. Volsky and the Western New England men's ice hockey team will begin a home-and-home series with Suffolk University in Conference of New England action this coming weekend, traveling to Boston on Friday, November 13 at 5:00 PM, while hosting the Rams on Saturday, November 14 at 5:00 PM at Smead Arena. 

Jackson continued to impress in her first season as a Golden Bear, taking the top spot in the 100-yard freestyle race in a dual match with Mount Holyoke College this past weekend, among three other impressive finishes for the Golden Bears. Jackson opened the event in the 200-yard medley relay, combining for a first-place finish in 2:04.31 with three other teammates to start out the evening. In the eighth event of the night, Jackson claimed first place in the 100-yard freestyle, taking the top spot by nearly two seconds, picking up a time of 57.75. Jackson continued with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, coming in with a time of 1:29.99. Jackson finished the night in the 200-yard freestyle, capping off the relay in 26.41, the fastest of the four Golden Bears, who took first place in the event. Jackson and the women's swim will participate in the Louise Goodrum Invitational, hosted by UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday, November 14 at 12:00 PM.