East Coast Conference Staff Dr. Robert Dranoff Commissioner rdranoff@eccsports.org 631.372.0332
Melissa Reilly Sr. Associate Commissioner mreilly@eccsports.org 631.372.1886
Casey Rafferty Associate Commissioner crafferty@eccsports.org 631.372.0886
The 2021 East Coast Conference Volleyball Championship Program was written, laid out and designed by Casey Rafferty, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications, in Adobe InDesign CS5. Cover art work designed by Casey Rafferty. Special thanks to the editorial assistance provided by: Bob Dranoff, Melissa Reilly, and the Sports Information Directors of the East Coast Conference.
2019 ECC Volleyball Championship November 22 - Semifinals
No. 1 Molloy d. No. 4 Mercy, 3-0 No. 2 Bridgeport d. No. 3 Daemen, 3-1 at Rockville Centre, N.Y.
November 23 - Final
No. 1 Molloy d. No. 2 Bridgeport, 3-1 at Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Most Outstanding Player Carly Banks, Molloy
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Past Champions
Southampton NYIT Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Pace Dowling Dowling Mercy Mercy Mercy New Haven Queens Dowling
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Dowling Dowling Dowling Dowling Bridgeport Dowling Dowling Bridgeport Bridgeport Bridgeport Bridgeport NYIT Molloy Daemen Daemen ***
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT No. Name Yr Pos Ht 1 Paola Hernandez Fr. OH 5-11 2 Samantha Cilluffo Fr. OH 5-8 3 Danielle Kreitler Sr. OH 5-9 4 Hannah Rodriques Fr. DS 5-7 5 Jaden Drollinger Fr. S 5-9 8 Amanda Hennemann Gr. OH 5-10 9 Emily Burford Sr. RS 5-11 10 Melanie Smith Fr. OH 6-0 12 Madison Jongsma Fr. MB 5-11 15 Amanda Keller Sr. MB 6-1 16 Megan Kreitler Sr. OH 5-9 17 Emily Griffin Fr. OH 5-8
Hometown/Previous School Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Robinson School Ridge, N.Y./Longwood Shelton, Conn./Shelton Bristol, R.I./Mt. Hope Queens Creek, Ariz./Queens Creek Nova Petropolis, Brazil/Colegio Cenecista Frederico Michaelsen Albuquerque, N. M./Univ. of New Mexico Ft. Collins, Colo./Fossill Ridge Sanford, Fla./Seminole Highlands Ranch Colo./Mountain Vista Shelton, Conn./Shelton Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area
Coach Gary Mullin
Head Coach: Gary Mullin (7th Season) Assistant Coach: Kelly Andrews
Emily Burford
Amanda Hennemann
Quick Facts
Location: Bridgeport, Conn. Founded: 1927 Enrollment: 4,800 Nickname: Purple Knights Colors: Purple and White President: Danielle Wilken, Ed.D. Director of Athletics: Jay Moran Arena (capacity): Harvey Hubbell Gym (1,200)
About Bridgeport
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Did You Know?
• Danielle Wilken was named the University of Bridgeport’s twelfth President in May of 2021. • Being in the 2022-23 academic year, the University of Bridgeport increase its athletic offerings with the addition of varsity men’s and women’s indoor & outdoor track plus men’s lacrosse. • UB women’s soccer program claimed the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 1-0 win over Grand Valley St. marking the first NCAA Division II team championship in school history.
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 Hometown/Previous School 2 Jordan Martin Jr. OH 5-10 Fort Wayne, Ind./University of Southern Indiana 3 Olivia Alessi So. DS 5-4 East Aurora, N.Y./Duquesne University 4 Mickaley Monahan Jr. DS 5-3 Saline, Mich./Saline 5 Kate Ryan Fr. OH/RS 5-11 Buffalo, N.Y./Mt. Mercy Academy 6 Sam Logan Sr. OH 5-10 Eden, N.Y./Eden 7 Loren Alberts Jr. MB 5-10 Huntley, Ill./Huntley 8 Shelby Kersten Jr. MB/RS 6-2 Alden, N.Y./Alden 9 Vanessa Kuliga So. MB 6-0 Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South Coach Stephanie Albano 10 Amelia Armstrong Fr. MH/OH 6-0 River Falls, Wisc./River Falls 11 Maggie Burns Jr. OH 5-9 Louisville, Ky./Urbana University 12 Jasmine Brundage So. DS 5-5 East Aurora, N.Y./St. Mary’s of Lancaster 13 Dunja Masic So. S 5-9 McHenry, Ill./McHenry Community West 14 Allison Post Gr. OH 6-0 Windsor, Calif./Windsor 15 Alex Leise Fr. MH 5-10 Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour 16 Brianna Martin Fr. MB 6-0 Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein 17 Caitlyn Meyer Gr. RS 6-0 Clarence, N.Y./James Madison University 18 Ali Cousins R-So. OH 5-6 Eldred, Pa./Otto-Eldred Ava Hackett TEAM IMPACT Olivia Alessi Head Coach: Stephanie Albano (6th Season) Volunteer Assistant Coach: Andrew Braun Grad. Assistant Coach: Eli Irizarry Pares
Sam Logan
Caitlyn Meyer
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 the No. 1 seed and hosting the ECC Championship for the third time (2016, 2018) • The Wildcats are seeking their second ECC tournament title and first since 2018 • Daemen posted a 36-1 mark in sets during the conference regular season and became the third team in the last 10 seasons with an unbeaten conference record, joining 2015 Bridgeport and 2019 Molloy
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.
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MERCY COLLEGE No. Name
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 15 18 20 42
Yr
Jessica Angounou So. Ayzaline Garay Jr. Tanializ Rivera Jr. Nilka Rivera Maldonado Sr. Selma Vulic Sr. Yarianne Gonzalez Jr. Cristy Encarnacion Jr. Larissa Schneid Jr. Tynesha Adams Sr. Sophia Flanders Sr. Stéphanie Lankhorst Jr. Lizbeth Sosa So. Sydney Whitfield Fr. Jaelyn Ríos Fr.
Pos Ht
OH 5-10 OH 5-9 MB 5-11 OH/RS 5-11 OH 5-9 S 5-2 RS/MB 6-2 OH 5-11 RS 5-10 S 5-5 MH 6-0 DS 5-4 L/DS 5-6 OH 5-11
Hometown/Previous School
Phoenix, Ariz./Betty H. Fairfax San Juan, Puerto Rico/Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice Carolina, P.R./Concordia College Bayamon, P.R./Concordia College New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle Manati, P.R./Monroe College St. Croix, US Virgin Islands/Alcorn State U. Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC Prattville, Ala./Bethune Cookman University Coach Gary Preston, Jr. Hamden, Conn./Hamden Apeldoorn, Netherlands/Koninklijke Scholengemeenschap Apeldoorn Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park
Head Coach: Gary Preston, Jr. (1st Season) Assistant Coaches: Jazmine Craig, Melissa Rigo Tynesha Adams
Yarianne Gonzalez
Quick Facts 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 second straight ECC Championship appearance • The Mavericks are looking for their first ECC Championship since 2001. • Mercy last appeared in the final of the ECC Championship in 2005.
Larissa Schneid
About Mercy:
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.
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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.
MOLLOY COLLEGE No. Name Yr 1 Kacey Affrunti Sr. 2 Alexa Rescigno Jr. 3 Alexa Morgan Sr. 5 Arianna Drudi Fr. 7 Brianna Medina So. 9 Nicole Wagner Jr. 10 Kassie Akouri-Tejedor Gr. 13 Colleen Moulder So. 16 Rebecca Meier Fr. 18 Graciela Cruz Jr. 20 Madison Wakely Fr. 21 Kathleen Doherty Jr. 25 Chye Davis Fr. 26 Alex Brown Fr.
Coach Brian Smith
Kassie Akouri Tejedor
Pos Ht M 6-1 DS 5-6 S 5-2 RS 5-7 OH 5-6 L/DS 5-4 S 5-7 M 6-0 OH 5-9 OH 5-10 OH 5-10 OH 5-9 M 6-0 OH 5-10
Hometown/Previous School Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst New Hyde Park, N.Y./New Hyde Park Brentwood, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park North Miami Beach, Fla./LIU Post Wantagh, N.Y./Kellenberg Floral Park, N.Y./Kellenberg Inwood, N.Y./College of St. Rose West Hempstead, N.Y./ Carey Massapequa Park, N.Y./Tampa Houston, Texas/Harmony School of Innovation Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly
Head Coach: Brian Smith (1st Season) Associate Head Coach: Kayla Dillman Assistant Coach: Steve Woessner
Alex Brown
Graciela Cruz
Quick Facts
Location: Rockville Centre, N.Y. Founded: 1955 Enrollment: 3,300 Nickname: Lions Colors: Maroon and White President: Dr. James Lentini Director of Athletics: Susan CassidyLyke Arena (capacity): Quealy Gymnasium (525)
Did You Know?
• This is the Lions’ fourth-straight season in the East Coast Conference Tournament, taking home the title in both 2017 and 2019. • Molloy leads the conference in both digs and aces per set, and ranks 17th in the nation with 2.12 aces per set. • Molloy returns 10 from the 2019 roster that won the program’s firstever NCAA Division II East Regional Championship.
About Molloy:
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.
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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.