ECAC Announces 2016 Division I Women's Volleyball All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division I Women’s Volleyball All-Star team.
James Madison University swept two major awards. Senior Janey Goodman garnered the Offensive Player of the Year honor, while junior Taylor Austin received Defensive Player of the Year. Fordham University freshman Olivia Fairchild was tabbed Rookie of the Year and Fairfield University Head Coach Todd Kress was named Coach of the Year.
Goodman was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year and the CAA Championship MVP. The senior was also selected CAA Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions. She garnered 20 or more kills in 10 matches this season with two performances of at least 30 kills. Goodman currently ranks second in career attempts (4,256) and career kills (1,634), third in career kill average (3.79) and fourth in career block assists (319). She leads the league in points per set (5.35) and kills per set (4.75), which is the highest single-season kill average in school history. Nationally, the junior ranks in the top 10 in points per set, kills per set, total kills (470) and total points (529.5).
Austin claimed the CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year and was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions. The junior ranks third on JMU’s career digs chart with 1,454 and second in career digs average with a 4.86 mark. She leads the conference and ranks second in the nation with 6.05 digs per set average and has the third highest single-season mark in school history with 587 digs. Austin garnered 20 or more digs in 14 contests with six performances with 30 or more digs. She was also named to the Cornell Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this season.
Fairchild received the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Rookie of the Year award, as well as Second Team All-Conference and All-Rookie Team honors. The freshman complied the most weekly awards any Ram has ever earned in a single season. Fairchild finished with 477 kills, second in the league and 15th in the country, and fourth-most in a single season and most ever by a freshman in school history. Her 57 aces were top in the A-10 and fourth in all Division I. Fairchild also added 229 digs, second-most on the squad. Her 1,191 attacks rank fourth in program history, second in the conference and 32nd nationally. The freshman also finished with 554.5 points on the year, second-highest in the league, and 10th in the country.
Kress collects his fifth, and second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year recognition. He led Fairfield to a 26-5 overall record and a perfect 18-0 MAAC tally. In seven total seasons at the helm, he is the program’s all-time leader in wins and matches coached as a part of a 160-72 record. Kress, who is 70-16 all-time in MAAC play, has led Fairfield to three unbeaten MAAC campaigns.
2016 ECAC Division I Women’s Volleyball All-Star Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Janey Goodman, Sr., James Madison University
Defensive Player of the Year
Taylor Austin, Jr., James Madison University
Rookie of the Year
Olivia Fairchild, Fr., Fordham University
Coach of the Year
Todd Kress, Fairfield University
First Team
Demi Muses, Sr., University of New Hampshire
Leah Levert, Jr., Syracuse University
Megan Theiller, Jr., Fairfield University
Skyler Day, Jr., Fairfield University
Janey Goodman, Sr., James Madison University
Vika Katzen, Sr., Bryant University
Taylor Austin, Jr., James Madison University
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