UMBC’s Alissa Grant, Isabel Ostvig Earn America East Weekly Honors After Perfect Opening Weekend
UMBC women’s volleyball opened the 2026 season with a statement, and two Retrievers have already been recognized by the America East Conference for their performances.
Middle blocker Alissa Grant was named America East Rookie of the Week, while setter Isabel Ostvig earned Setter of the Week honors after helping UMBC start the season 2-0 at the Country Roads Challenge hosted by West Virginia.
The Retrievers swept UTRGV before defeating Big 12 opponent West Virginia in a five-set thriller, giving UMBC an impressive opening weekend away from home.
Grant Makes Immediate Impact
Grant wasted little time establishing herself as a difference-maker in the middle.
The redshirt freshman averaged 1.63 kills and 2.0 blocks per set over UMBC’s first two matches while hitting .385 and averaging 2.75 points per set.
Her efficiency was particularly impressive in UMBC’s season-opening sweep of UTRGV. Grant recorded six kills while hitting .750 as the Retrievers rolled to a three-set victory.
She followed that performance with an even bigger defensive contribution against West Virginia.
Grant finished with seven kills and was involved in 10 blocks during UMBC’s five-set victory over the Mountaineers. She recorded one solo block and nine block assists as UMBC totaled 16 blocks as a team.
Grant also delivered in a critical moment during the fifth set. With UMBC trailing after the Mountaineers had rallied from a two-set deficit, Ostvig connected with Grant for a kill that helped the Retrievers stay within striking distance early in the deciding frame.
Later, Grant teamed with Claudia Llamas on another block that gave UMBC a 12-10 advantage.
For a player making her first collegiate appearances, Grant showed the ability to impact matches both offensively and at the net.
Ostvig Directs the UMBC Offense
Ostvig provided the steady hand that helped make UMBC’s offense work throughout the weekend.
The junior setter averaged an America East-best 9.63 assists per set while also contributing 1.88 digs and 1.13 blocks per set.
Ostvig finished with 38 assists in the sweep of UTRGV before producing one of the most complete performances of the weekend against West Virginia.
She handed out 39 assists while adding four kills, eight digs and eight blocks against the Mountaineers. Ostvig also recorded two service aces in the victory.
Her performance helped UMBC survive a major momentum swing.
The Retrievers won the first two sets against West Virginia and built a 15-7 advantage in the third before the Mountaineers stormed back to take the next two sets.
UMBC responded in the fifth.
Ostvig contributed an ace during a four-point UMBC run that turned a 7-5 deficit into a 9-7 advantage. The Retrievers eventually closed out the match 15-13 to finish the weekend undefeated.
The honor marks the second America East Setter of the Week award of Ostvig’s career. She previously earned the award during the 2025 season. Ostvig was also named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2024 and earned Academic All-District recognition in 2025.
Ostvig has developed into one of UMBC’s most versatile players. During the 2025 season, she recorded three triple-doubles, the most in a single season and career in program history, while finishing with double-digit assists in all 25 matches she played.
Strong Start for the Retrievers
UMBC could not have asked for much more from its opening weekend.
A three-set sweep provided an encouraging start, but defeating West Virginia showed something more about this team.
The Retrievers had to respond after losing a sizeable third-set advantage and watching a 2-0 match lead disappear. Instead of allowing the Mountaineers to complete the comeback, UMBC made several big plays at the net and service line during the fifth set.
Grant and Ostvig were right in the middle of those moments.
The two weekly awards also show the balance UMBC already has between established contributors and emerging talent. Ostvig gives the Retrievers experience at setter, while Grant gives UMBC another potentially disruptive presence along the front row.
UMBC will now head to western New York for its next road trip with matches against Buffalo and Canisius.
MSB Take
This is about as encouraging of an opening weekend as UMBC could have wanted.
Ostvig receiving another Setter of the Week award is not surprising considering what she has already accomplished, but her ability to contribute in nearly every area against West Virginia is important. A setter putting up 39 assists while also contributing eight digs and eight blocks can change a match in several different ways.
Grant may be the bigger long-term development to watch.
Ten blocks against a Big 12 opponent in essentially her first weekend of college volleyball is an outstanding start. UMBC has consistently built competitive volleyball teams around strong defense, quality serving and players who can control the net. Grant already looks capable of becoming another major piece in that formula.
It is still extremely early in the season, but starting 2-0 and beating West Virginia gives the Retrievers something meaningful to build on.
If Grant continues developing while Ostvig provides stability at setter, UMBC could once again have the pieces to be a serious factor when America East play begins.
