SUNYAC All-Decade Awards Released for Women's Volleyball

SUNYAC All-Decade Awards Released for Women's Volleyball

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announces its Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Decade, Coach of the Decade and All-Decade Team as nominated and voted on by the institution's sports information directors.

To be eligible for the All-Decade Team, athletes must have competed in the SUNYAC at least one season during the 2009-10 academic year through 2019-20 and athletes must have been named to the All-SUNYAC team more than once or named Athlete of the Year once. Athlete and Coach of the Decade recipients were previously named SUNYAC Athlete of the Year or Coach of the Year. 

SUNYAC Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Decade - Grace Cergol, Geneseo

Cergol is the only player in SUNYAC history to be named the SUNYAC Player of the Year three times (2017-2019). She was also a four-time All-SUNYAC selection and two-time AVCA All-American (2017, 2019). She is Geneseo's program leader in career kills (1,593), ranks fourth in career digs (1,327) and ranks seventh in service aces (162). In 2018 Cergol helped lead the Knights to a 9-0 mark in the SUNYAC regular season earning the top seed into the conference tournament. The Knights advanced to the final for the first time since 2006. Cergol tore her ACL in the SUNYAC championship match and had to wait for the 2019 season to return to play. Geneseo was again 9-0 in conference regular season play in 2019. They earned the top seed into the SUNYAC tournament and made back-to-back appearances in the SUNYAC final for first time in program history.

SUNYAC Women's Volleyball Coach of the Decade - Steve Pike, Brockport

Pike led his team to four SUNYAC titles (2015-17, 19) which included three undefeated seasons (2015-17) in conference play. Pike was named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year three of the last five years. Since joining Brockport in 2013, he has a 164-70 overall record and a 46-17 record in SUNYAC play. The Golden Eagles have made the NCAA tournament in four of the last five years. In 2016, he guided Brockport to the NCAA third round after posting a 34-4 overall record and a 9-0 mark in conference play. In 2015, he led Brockport to a 34-2 overall record and the team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The 34-2 ledger was the best record in the NCAA. Pike has been selected to help coach at the US Women's National Team tryout on multiple occasions.

2010's SUNYAC Women's Volleyball All-Decade Team (PDF)

Name

School

Hometown / HS

Position

Years Competed

Kayla Barber

Brockport

South Glens Falls, N.Y. / South Glens Falls

Outside Hitter

2014-15

Sam Holdredge

Brockport

Brighton, N.Y. / Brighton

Outside Hitter

2015-16

Meaghan Mastro

Brockport

Apalachin, N.Y. / Apalachin

Middle Blocker

2017-Present

Noelle Poloncarz

Brockport

Orchard Park, N.Y. / Orchard Park

Setter

2014-17

Kelsey Bashore

Buffalo State

Antwerp, OH / Antwerp

Setter

2011-13

Sam Parente

Buffalo State

E. Patchogue, N.Y. / Bellport

Outside Hitter

2011-14

Sheena Asibey

Cortland

Brentwood, N.Y. / Brentwood

Middle Hitter

2008-11

Ashley Coyle

Cortland

Mt. Hope, N.Y. / Minisink Valley

Outside Hitter

2008, 10-12

Kristen Guercio

Cortland

Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown

Setter

2009-12

Jessica DiChristopher

Fredonia

Cheektowaga, N.Y. / West Seneca East

Middle Blocker

2012-15

Brittany Lis

Fredonia

Lancaster, N.Y. / Lancaster

Setter

2008-11

Grace Cergol

Geneseo

East Northport, N.Y. / John Glenn

Outside Hitter

2016-19

Sam Mendelsohn

Geneseo

Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East

Defensive Specialist/Libero

2016-19

Becca Borquist

New Paltz

Rhinebeck, N.Y. / Rhinebeck

Outside Hitter

2012-15

Carrie Hack

New Paltz

Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker

Libero

2010-13

Marissa King

New Paltz

Canadaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy

Setter

2010-13

Morgan Roessler

New Paltz

Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa

Outside Hitter

2013-16

Clara Culeton

Oneonta

Oswego, N.Y. / Oswego

Middle Hitter

2017-20

Rosi Cummings

Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Beekmantown

Outside Hitter / Right Side

2010-13