ECAC Announces 2016 Division III New England Women's Volleyball All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III New England Women’s Volleyball All-Star team.
Maine Maritime Academy senior Gillian O’Neal earned the Offensive Player of the Year honor, while Springfield College senior Lauren Holt received Defensive Player of the Year. Maine Maritime Academy freshman Sydney Adams received Rookie of the Year, and Maine Maritime Academy Head Coach Tricia Carver was awarded Coach of the Year.
O’Neal helped lead Maine Maritime to the team’s fifth overall North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship and first since 2010. The senior was named the 2016 NAC Player of the Year and Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, while also earning NAC and Mariner Classic Tournament MVP honors this season. O’Neal has also been selected to participate in the New England Women’s Volleyball Association’s (NEWVA) Senior All-Star Classic Game. She finished the NAC regular-season as one of the top hitters as she ranked first in kills per set (3.89) and second in total kills (74). The senior posted an impressive .304 hitting percentage to go along with 53 digs, 12 service aces, five assists and four blocks in conference play.
Holt was named the NEWVA Player of the Year and was also chosen to the NEWVA All-New England First Team. In her final season, Holt led the Pride to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 and a 29-6 record. The senior was named New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Athlete of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and to the All-Conference First Team before being named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-Region and finally an AVCA All-American. Holt averaged 2.87 kills and 1.60 blocks per set in her senior campaign, and season totals included 347 kills, a .359 hitting percentage, 26 service aces and 193 total blocks, including 58 solo. Her 1.60 blocks per set is enough to lead the nation. She is now a four-time NEWVA All-Region honoree.
Adams was voted NAC Rookie of the Year. She played in all 28 of the Mariners matches this season. In conference play, she ranked in the top-four in two statistical categories, service aces per set (0.82) and assists per set (6.44). The freshman also tallied 130 kills, 216 digs, 728 assists, 93 service aces and 40 blocks on the season. The four-time NAC Rookie of the Week honoree has earned national recognition for her total service aces, as she currently ranks No. 1 in the country.
Carver is named NAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive time in her fourth season with Maine Maritime. The Mariners entered as the top seed in the NAC Championship Tournament after compiling a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Carver’s squad has tallied an impressive 22-3 record in conference play over her four years.
2016 ECAC Division III New England Women’s Volleyball All-Star Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Gillian O’Neal, Sr., Maine Maritime Academy
Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Holt, Sr., Springfield College
Rookie of the Year
Sydney Adams, Fr., Maine Maritime Academy
Coach of the Year
Tricia Carver, Maine Maritime Academy
Honorable Mention
Lauren Holt, Sr., Springfield College
Tess Clark, So., Maine Maritime Academy
Gillian O’Neal, Sr., Maine Maritime Academy
Anagabrielle Sanchez, Fr., Springfield College
Yvette Cho, So., Brandeis University
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