East Coast Conference Staff Dr. Robert Dranoff Commissioner rdranoff@eccsports.org 631.372.0332
Melissa Reilly Associate Commissioner mreilly@eccsports.org 631.372.1886
Casey Rafferty Assistant Commissioner crafferty@eccsports.org 631.372.0886
The 2019 East Coast Conference Volleyball Championship Program was written, laid out and designed by Casey Rafferty, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications, in Adobe InDesign CS5. Cover art work designed by ECC Communications and Operations Assistant, Ruth Rodriguez. Special thanks to the editorial assistance provided by: Bob Dranoff, Melissa Reilly, and the Sports Information Directors of the East Coast Conference.
IF i WIN I ’ L L B A C K I T U P W I T H H U M I L I T Y.
Don’t undo my hard work with poor sportsmanship.
2018 ECC Volleyball Championship November 9 - Semifinals
No. 1 Daemen d. No. 4 Bridgeport, 3-1 No. 2 Molloy d. No. 3 LIU Post, 3-2 at Amherst, N.Y.
November 10 - Final
No. 1 Daemen d. No. 2 Molloy, 3-1 at Amherst, N.Y.
Most Outstanding Player Cristina Apostol, Daemen
Past Champions 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Southampton NYIT Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Pace Dowling Dowling Mercy Mercy Mercy New Haven Queens
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Bridgeport Dowling Dowling Bridgeport Bridgeport Bridgeport Bridgeport NYIT Molloy Daemen
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT No. Name Yr 1 Klein Johnson Jr. 2 Emma Werning Fr. 4 Carly Killorin So. 5 Breanna Jones So. 6 Morgan Knight Sr. 7 Danielle Kreitler So. 8 Amanda Hennemann Sr. 9 Emily Burford Sr. 12 Claire Anderson Sr. 13 Makayla Maroney Sr. 15 Amanda Keller So. 16 Megan Kreitler So. 18 Datari Mathis Fr.
Pos Ht DS 5-9 MB 6-0 S 5-8 DS 5-9 OH 5-10 OH 5-9 OH 5-10 RS 5-11 OH/RS 5-10 MB 5-11 MB 6-1 OH 5-9 RS 5-9
Hometown/Previous School San Antonio Texas/Taft Ft. Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe Littleton, Colo./Chatfield Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista Shelton, Conn./Shelton Nova Petropolis, Brazil /Colegio Cenecista Frederico Michaelsen Albuquerque, N. M./U. of New Mexico Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor Parker, Colo./Ponderosa Highlands Ranch Colo./Mountain Vista Shelton, Conn./Shelton New Britain, Conn./Sports and Medical Science Academy
Coach Gary Mullin
Head Coach: Gary Mullin (6th Season)
Amanda Hennemann
Klein Johnson
Quick Facts
Location: Bridgeport, Conn. Founded: 1927 Enrollment: 4,800 Nickname: Purple Knights Colors: Purple and White President: Laura Skandera Trombley, Ph.D. Director of Athletics: Lou Izzi Arena (capacity): Harvey Hubbell Gym (1,200)
About Bridgeport
4
Did You Know?
• The Bridgeport women’s soccer program claimed the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 1-0 win over Grand Valley St last December • Since 2012, 12 University of Bridgeport student-athletes have earned national CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. • UB softball won its first-ever ECC Championship this past Spring. • UB began play in its new baseball field adjacent to campus in beautiful Seaside Park earlier this year. • The University of Bridgeport women’s gymnastics team has won six of the last 10 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Team Championships.
Amanda Keller
An international, doctoral intensive comprehensive university, with award-winning academic programs, at the University of Bridgeport, the New England’s fastest growing university, students can earn degrees in a variety of innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs. UB is among America’s strong international universities with 25 percent of our students coming from overseas. The University’s commitment to educate students from throughout the world is recognized in the US News and World Report issue on colleges. With students from more than 80 countries who are active in student government, publications and clubs, the University of Bridgeport prides itself in being a real world experience in globalization. Through its International Programs, the University provides academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities which support the University’s commitment to promote global citizenship and a commitment to public service. There are 200 full- and part-time faculty, including Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation Fellows, Ford Fellows, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows, American Council for Learned Societies Scholars and Phi Beta Kappa Scholars. Known for its competent, committed, caring faculty, the University prides itself on its student-faculty ratio of 11:1. It also takes pride in its commitment to diversity. Some 32 percent of its students are members of minorities. Committed to creating new learning venues, the University of Bridgeport’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and its Office of Distance Learning pioneered the first online graduate degree program in the State of Connecticut. A variety of online courses and certificate programs are also available.
DAEMEN COLLEGE
No. Name Yr Pos Ht 1 Hannah McKee So. S/RS 6-0 2 Meghan Ballou Sr. MB/RS 6-0 3 Ali Greenwood Jr. DS 5-6 4 Mickaley Monahan Fr. DS 5-3 5 Jenn Heritz Jr. OH/RS 6-0 6 Sam Logan So. OH 5-10 7 Loren Alberts Fr. MB 5-10 8 Shelby Kersten Fr. MB/RS 6-2 Coach Stephanie Albano 9 Courtney Bernard R-Sr. RS/MB 6-0 10 Georgia Wicker Jr. DS/S 5-3 11 Isa McCaffrey So. S 5-8 14 Allison Post Jr. OH 6-0 15 Lexi Prokopius Fr. OH/DS 5-8 16 Tirzah Peters Jr. MH 6-0 18 Ali Cousins R-Fr. OH 5-6
Meghan Ballou
Hometown/Previous School East Highland, Calif./St. Martin’s Univ. Eden, N.Y./Eden North Aurora, Ill./West Aurora Saline, Mich./Saline Granger, Ind./Penn Eden, N.Y./Eden Huntley, Ill./Huntley Alden, N.Y./Alden Lancaster, Ohio/Fairfield Union Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock North Royalton, Ohio/Magnificat Windsor, Calif./Windsor Independence, Ohio/Independence Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home Eldred, Pa./Otto-Eldred
Head Coach: Stephanie Albano (4th Season) Assistant Coach: Don Gleason, Maria Travale, Andrew Braun
Ali Greenwood
Allison Post
About Daemen
Quick Facts
Location: Amherst, N.Y. Founded: 1947 Enrollment: 2,800 Nickname: Wildcats Colors: Royal Blue, Black, White, Gray President: Gary A. Olson Director of Athletics: Traci Murphy Arena (capacity): Lumsden Gymnasium (600)
Did You Know?
• Daemen is making their third ECC Championships appearance since 2016, but this is the first time they’ve had to travel for it. Daemen was the tournament host in 2016 and 2018, and the Wildcats are 3-1 all-time in ECC Championships matches. • Daemen defeated Molloy in the 2018 ECC Championships finals, capturing their first conference tournament crown since joining the ECC in 2013. • Daemen has posted a .500 record or better in five of their seven seasons as members of the ECC. Daemen is 57-43 all-time in regular season ECC matches, including a 38-14 mark in the last four seasons under head coach Stephanie Albano.
Daemen College is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational, comprehensive college in Amherst, New York, chartered to award both undergraduate and graduate level degrees. Located in a safe and attractive suburban setting, Daemen offers convenient access to one of the country’s most vibrant regions, spanning Buffalo-Niagara, the Great Lakes, and a cross-border corridor with Ontario, Canada, less than a two-hour drive from cosmopolitan Toronto. With a balance of liberal studies and professional programs, Daemen students acquire the skill to solve problems creatively and think critically. They will be comfortable with diversity and will recognize the importance of a global perspective. They will be able to work with others and be invigorated by environments that present challenges and demand innovation. Daemen is a full-fledged member of NCAA Division II after a three-year transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Daemen sponsors 17 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level, 14 of which compete in the East Coast Conference.
5
MOLLOY COLLEGE No. Name Yr 1 Kacey Affrunti Jr. 2 Alexa Rescigno So. 3 Alexa Morgan Jr. 4 Rachel Phillips Fr. 5 Maggie Lavelle Jr. 7 Sophia Smith Sr. 8 Kat Verastegui Fr. 9 Nicole Wagner So. 10 Kassie Akouri-Tejedor Sr. 11 Tara Carlin Sr. 12 Carly Banks Sr. 13 Colleen Moulder Fr. 14 Hailey Wehr Sr. 16 Allie Lackner Jr. 17 Devon Hagerstrom Sr. 18 Graciela Cruz Jr. 20 Sarah Henry Fr. 21 Kathleen Doherty So. 22 Brynne Winkelman Fr. 23 Brianna Medina Fr. 24 Jessica Fischetti Sr. 25 Chye Davis Fr.
Pos M DS S OH RS S DS L/DS S OH OH M RS DS M OH RS OH DS OH DS M
Ht 6-1 5-6 5-2 5-7 5-8 5-7 5-6 5-4 5-7 5-7 5-8 6-0 6-0 5-7 6-0 5-10 5-11 5-9 5-6 5-6 5-5 6-0
Hometown/Previous School Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst Noblesville, Ind./Heritage Christian Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity Georgetown, Texas/Georgetown Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park North Miami Beach, Fla./LIU Post Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park Camas, Wash./Camas Wantagh, N.Y./Kellenberg Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River Albuquerque, N.M./LIU Post Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge Inwood, N.Y./College of St. Rose Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin Massapequa Park, N.Y./Tampa Dumas, Texas Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Seaford, N.Y./Seaford Houston, Texas/Harmony School of Innovation
Coach Kevin DesLauriers
Kacey Affrunti
Head Coach: Kevin DesLauriers (3rd Season) Assistant Coach: Kerrin Kallmann, Dave Mayerson, Kayla Dillman
Jessica Fischetti
Quick Facts
Location: Rockville Centre, N.Y. Founded: 1955 Enrollment: 3,300 Nickname: Lions Colors: Maroon and White President: Drew Bogner, Ph.D Director of Athletics: Susan CassidyLyke Arena (capacity): Quealy Gymnasium (525)
About Molloy:
6
Did You Know?
Sophia Smith
• This is Molloy’s third-straight year in the conference tournament after a nine-year hiatus. • Junior Kacey Affrunti enters the tournament ranked second in the nation in service aces per set and is fifth in total aces. • The maroon and white have a 11-1 record at home in 2019, with the lone loss coming in five sets against top-five Lewis University.
Molloy College is an institution of the Dominican tradition which offers students a rich, multi-dimensional educational experience in an academically challenging environment. We foster critical thinking and creative exploration while preparing students to live and work in the global world of today. Money magazine recently ranked Molloy College the #1 “Value All-Star” in the nation.
MERCY COLLEGE
No. Name Yr 2 Natalia Garcia Jr. 3 Ayzaline Garay Fr. 6 Selma Vulic So. 7 NeKendra Liddie Sr. 8 Loreto Nunez Casal So. 10 Adriana Lopez-Soto Jr. 11 Nichole Rivera Maldonado Jr. 14 Sophia Flanders So. Coach Georgia Efthalitsides 15 Stéphanie Lankhorst Fr. 17 Jessica Berka Sr. 20 Leilani Vazquez Jr. 21 Ciara Rosado Sr. 42 Imani DeBose Sr.
Pos Ht S 5-3 OH 5-9 OH 5-9 MH 6-0 OH/RS 6-0 L 5-5 RS/MH 6-1 S 5-5 MH 6-0 DS 5-6 OH 5-11 DS 5-6 OH 5-9
Hometown/Previous School Vega Baja, P.R./Turabo University Bronx, N.Y./Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle HS Gardena, Calif./The College of New Rochelle Pontevedra, Spain/Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Gurabo, P.R./Notre Dame HS Bayamon, P.R./Academia Discipulos de Cristo Hamden, Conn./Hamden Apeldoorn, Netherlands/Koninklijke Scholengemeenschap Apeldoorn Hicksville, N.Y./St. Dominic’s Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Adelphi University Throggs Neck, N.Y./DeSales University Carson, Calif./The College of New Rochelle
Head Coach: Georgia Efthalitsides (4th Season) Assistant Coaches: Taylor Robinson, Taylor McClung Imani DeBose
Natalia Garcia
Quick Facts Loreto Nunez Casal
About Mercy:
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Founded: 1950 Enrollment: 9,403 Nickname: Mavericks Colors: Blue and White President: Timothy L. Hall Director of Athletics: Matt Kilcullen, Jr. Arena (capacity): Victory Hall Sports Complex (500)
Did You Know?
• Mercy is making their first ECC Championship appearance since 2008. • The Mavericks are looking for their first ECC Championship since 2001. • Mercy last appeared in the final of the ECC Championship in 2005.
Mercy College is a New York metropolitan area college of over 9,000 students studying at five campus locations including: Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, Manhattan, White Plains, Yorktown Heights. With over 90 undergraduate and graduate programs, 25 of which are offered online, Mercy College offers a quality liberal arts education within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students may take classes during the day, evenings, weekends, and online, so that they can fit a rigorous Mercy College education into their busy lives. Mercy College also offers tremendous financial support so that the cost of college is not a barrier to success. The faculty is dedicated to the scholarship of teaching. Mercy College professors include Fulbright Scholars, published authors and national authorities in their fields. Mercy College offers a comprehensive intercollegiate NCAA Division II program that sponsors 16 varsity sports. The main campus located on the scenic banks of the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry is just minutes from Manhattan. Mercy College students reside in the College’s on campus dormitory and within the suburban community of Dobbs Ferry. Intramural activities are also offered throughout the year for the recreational athlete. To apply to Mercy College visit www.mercy.edu or call 1-877-MERCYGO.
7
IF i LOSE I ’ L L R E S P O N D W I T H R E S P E C T.
Don’t undo my hard work with poor sportsmanship.