Central Islip, N.Y. – For the second
consecutive year the volleyball coaches of the ECC have voted
graduate student outside hitter/setter, Biljana Savic (Novi Sad,
Serbia) from the University of Bridgeport as the conference's
Player of the Year. A pair of Dowling teammates, Kayla Morgan
(Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and Kayla Dillman (Rochester, N.Y.), were named
the conference’s Libero of the Year and the Setter of the
Year, while LIU Post's Danielle Valenza (Hauppauge, N.Y.) earns the
Rookie of the Year honor.
Savic, wraps up her stellar career at Bridgeport with her second
straight Player of the Year honor and fourth straight selection to
the All-Conference First Team. Savic once again showcased an
all-around game, excelling at multiple positions and stuffing the
stat sheet for the Purple Knights. In 24 matches, Savic ranked in
the top 20 in the ECC with 201 kills, 2.48 kills per set, a .209
hitting percentage, 429 assists, 5.30 assists per set, and finished
second in the conference with 45 service aces and 0.56 service aces
per set. Her contributions didn't end there, as she added 170 digs
and 33 total blocks as well.
Morgan anchored the Golden Lions' defense this season with an
ECC-leading 512 digs and 4.97 digs per set. Morgan's serve was
lethal as well, as she ranks atop the conference's leader board
with 50 service aces and finished third with 0.49 service aces per
set.
Dillman is the recipient of the conference's first-ever Setter of
the Year award. Despite missing seven mid-season matches due to an
injury, the four-time ECC Setter of the Week still leads the ECC
with 848 assists on the season. In addition, her assist per set
total of 11.01 is more than 1.5 assist ahead of the next highest
total in the ECC and ranks her 25th nationally across all of
Division II.
Valenza had an impressive debut season wearing the green and gold
of LIU Post. The freshman led the Pioneers and ranked fourth
in the ECC with 322 kills and also ranked in the conference’s
top-10 with 2.98 kills per set. Valenza, a two-time recipient of
the ECC Rookie of the Week award, added a .207 hitting percentage,
194 digs, and 56 total blocks to her season totals.
Kevin DesLauriers, head coach at Dowling, has been selected as
Coach of the Year by his peers. In his second year at the helm,
DesLauriers led the Golden Lions to a 21-8 overall record and a
13-3 mark in the ECC to earn the No. 2 seed in the upcoming
conference tournament. Under his guidance, Dowling's ECC win total
jumped by three games from a season ago and the total of overall
wins is already two better than last season with post-season play
still to commence.
Joining Savic on the All-Conference First Team are Kate Brock
(Jr., MH, River Edge, N.J.) of NYIT, Jessica Kalbfleisch (Jr., OH,
Ridge, N.Y.) of Dowling, Larissa Oliveira (Sr., MB, Belo Horizonte,
Brazil) and Sarah Rosa (Jr., OH, Itajuba, Brazlil) of Bridgeport,
and Jordan Wilson (Sr., MB, Vista, Calif.) of Roberts Wesleyan.
Morgan is joined on the All-Conference Second Team by Arielle
DiCocco (Jr., RS, Blue Point, N.Y.) of Queens, Melissa Hansen (Jr.,
MH, Colorado Springs, Colo.) of LIU Post, Kendall Havener (Sr., MB,
Alpine, Calif.) of Roberts Wesleyan, Katarzyna Klocek (So., RS,
Poznan, Poland) of Dowling, and Brenna White (Sr., OH,
Gardnerville, Nev.) of Mercy.
Both Dillman and Valenza wrap up the All-Conference honorees as
Honorable Mention selections.
2014 ECC
Volleyball All-Conference
First Team
Kate Brock - Jr., MH, NYIT
Jessica Kalbfleisch - Jr., OH, Dowling
Larissa Oliveira - Sr., MB, Bridgeport
Sarah Rosa - Sr., OH, Bridgeport
Biljana Savic - Gr., OH/S, Bridgeport
Jordan Wilson - Sr., MB, Roberts Wesleyan
Second Team
Arielle DiCocco - Jr., RS, Queens
Melissa Hansen - Jr., MH, LIU Post
Kendall Havener - Sr., MB, Roberts Wesleyan
Katarzyna Klocek - So., RS, Dowling
Kayla Morgan - Jr., L, Dowling
Brenna White - Sr. OH, Mercy
Honorable Mention
Kayla Dillman - Jr., S, Dowling
Danielle Valenza - Fr., MB/OH/RS, LIU Post
Player of the Year: Biljana Savic -
Bridgeport
Libero of the Year: Kayla Morgan - Dowling
Setter of the Year: Kayla Dillman - Dowling
Rookie of the Year: Danielle Valenza - LIU
Post
Coach of the Year: Kevin DesLauriers -
Dowling
