November 14, 2019

SUNYAC RELEASES 2019 VOLLEYBALL ANNUAL HONORS

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) releases its 2019 Women's Volleyball Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference coaches.

Player of the Year: Grace Cergol, Geneseo

Grace Cergol led her team on offense this season at the outside hitter position. The East Northport native is ranked No. 1 in the conference with 375 total kills this season and an average of 3.41 kills per set. Cergol's dominance propelled Geneseo to the No. 1 seed going into the SUNYAC championship. The Knights advanced to the SUNYAC championship, but lost to Brockport, 3-1. Cergol was named to the 2019 All-Tournament team as Geneseo ended the season 18-12 overall.

Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Mendelsohn, Geneseo

Sam Mendelsohn, a defensive specialist for Geneseo, is the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. Mendelsohn totaled 556 digs (No. 3 in conference) on the season and averaged 5.05 per set, which is ranked second in the conference. Mendelsohn was the anchor to the Geneseo backline and with her defensive talents, brought the Knights all the way to the SUNYAC conference championship match. Mendelsohn had just three errors on the season, exhibiting her talent and precision. She was named to the All-Tournament team after Geneseo lost to Brockport in the SUNYAC championship, 3-1.

Rookie of the Year: Carly Haegele, Cortland

Haegele played 122 sets in her rookie season. Although Haegele didn't start any matches this season, her impact on the court was obvious. Haegele totaled 104 assists on the season averaging .85 assists per set. The Commack native averaged 4.73 digs a set and ended the season with 577 in total. In her first year, Haegele and the Red Dragons were just two set wins away from making the SUNYAC conference championship match. Their season ended against the eventual 2019 SUNYAC champions the Brockport Golden Eagles in the semifinals, 3-1.

Coach of the Year: Steve Pike, Brockport

The Brockport Golden Eagles won their eighth SUNYAC volleyball championship under head coach Steve Pike. Brockport is 19-10 overall after winning 10 straight matches. The Golden Eagles entered the SUNYAC tournament at the No. 2 seed after going 7-2 in conference play. They defeated No. 3 Cortland, 3-1, and then topped No. 1 Geneseo, 3-1, to take home the title. As a team, Brockport averaged 11.51 kills per set, 10.78 assists per set, 1.73 blocks per set, 2.27 service aces per set (led the SUNYAC) and 17.09 digs per set. Pike and the Golden Eagles will go on to play Welleseley College in the first round in the NCAA tournament on Friday.

2019 Women's Volleyball All-Conference Teams (Click here for PDF)

Name	School	Yr.	Pos.	Hometown / High School
First Team
Meaghan Mastro	Brockport	Jr.	MB	Apalachin, N.Y. / Apalachin
Hannah Southcott	Cortland	So.	OH	Princeton, W.V. / Princeton
Grace Cergol	Geneseo	Sr.	OH	East Northport, N.Y / John Glen
Sam Mendelsohn	Geneseo	Sr.	DS/L	Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East
Madison Van pelt	New Paltz	Sr.	OH	Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central
Clara Culeton	Oneonta	Jr.	MB	Oswego, N.Y. / Oswego
Second Team
Ellen Paddock	Brockport	So.	DS	Warsaw, N.Y. / Warsaw
Abby May	Geneseo	Sr.	OH/ OPP	Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker
Maddie McLaughlin	Geneseo	So.	OH	East Aurora, N.Y. / East Aurora
Jessica Fowler	Oneonta	Sr.	S	Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Burnt Hills
Victoria Moulder	Oneonta	Sr.	MB	Wantagh, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial
Lauren Fie	Oswego	Sr.	MB	Corning, N.Y. / Corning Painted Post
Third Team
Lindsey Luce	Brockport	Sr.	OH	Varysburg, N.Y. / Attica
Carly Haegele	Cortland	Fr.	L/DS	Commack, N.Y. / Commack
Grace Thomas	Geneseo	Fr.	S	Owego, N.Y. / Owego Free Academy
Melissa Lussier	Oswego	Jr.	RS	Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. / Walter Panas
Shauna O'Flaherty	Oswego	Sr.	OH	Garrison, N.Y. / Walter Panas
Michelle Simmons	Plattsburgh	Jr.	MB	Riverside, CA / Riverside Poly
Natalie Magallon	Potsdam	Jr.	L/DS/S	Commerce, CA / Bell Gardens