Central Islip, N.Y. - Maja Potpara (Pljevlja, Montenegro), a graduate setter from Dowling College, has been selected the 2011 ECC Volleyball Player of the Year. Potpara wraps up an amazing career as a Golden Lion by winning the conference’s top honor for the fourth consecutive season. NYIT senior Lisa Peacock (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), was also a repeat winner, taking home Libero of the Year for the third straight year. Bridgeport freshman outside hitter Biljana Savic (Novi Sad, Serbia) rounds out the top award winners, garnering Rookie of the Year honors.
Potpara, a four-time ECC Player of the Year, put together another great season in 2011. The graduate student ranks first in the conference in service aces per game (.49) and third in assists per game (9.80). She also compiled 151 kills with a .269 hitting percentage, which ranked seventh in the conference. This season, Potpara also notched twelve double-doubles.
Peacock anchored the NYIT defense this season, averaging a conference best 4.72 digs per game. She scooped up double-digit digs on 23 occasions, including a season high of 32 against Kutztown on September 1.
Savic had a standout freshman year, leading the Purple Knights with 365 kills and 4.15 kills per set. Her kills per set total was good for fifth in the conference. A six time recipient of the ECC Rookie of the Week honor, Savic also posted 14 double doubles on the season.
Rick Cole, Jr. of Dowling has been selected as Coach of the Year, as voted on by his peers. In his first season as head coach, Cole guided his team to a 25-4 regular season finish and the No. 1 seed in the ECC tournament with a 13-1 mark in conference play.
Potpara and Savic were also All-Conference First Team Selection. Joining them on the First Team is Shelby Cable (So., OH, NYIT), Jovana Pavlovic (Sr., MB, Queens), Bethany Shepard (Jr., OH, Dowling), and Brenna White (Fr., OH, Mercy).
The All-Conference Second Team recipients include: Damla Albayrak (Sr., S, NYIT), Fernanda Costa (Sr., OH, Bridgeport), Dragana Jelovac (Fr., MH, Dowling), Tamara Leite (Sr., S, Bridgeport), Makamae Namahoe (So., MB, C.W. Post), and Angelica Nicalek (Sr., OH, Molloy).
2011 ECC Volleyball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Shelby Cable - So., OH, NYIT
Jovana Pavlovic - Sr., MB, Queens
Maja Potpara - Gr., S, Dowling
Biljana Savic - Fr., OH, Bridgeport
Bethany Shepard - Jr., OH, Dowling
Brenna White - Fr., OH, Mercy
Second Team
Damla Albayrak - Sr., S, NYIT
Fernanda Costa - Sr., OH, Bridgeport
Dragana Jelovac - Fr., MH, Dowling
Tamara Leite - Sr., S, Bridgeport
Makamae Namahoe - So., MH, C.W. Post
Angelica Nicalek - Sr., OH, Molloy
Player of the Year: Maja Potpara, Gr., S,
Dowling
Libero of the Year: Lisa Peacock, Sr., L, NYIT
Rookie of the Year: Biljana Savic, Fr., OH,
Bridgeport
Coach of the Year: Rick Cole, Jr., Dowling
