SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces its 2023 women's volleyball annual awards including All-Conference Teams, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the year as voted on by the conference coaches.
Player of the Year - Anna Pilkey, Cortland
Pilkey was named the 2023 SUNYAC Women's Volleyball Tournament MVP after leading her team to its third-straight and 22nd overall league crown. She totaled 26 points, 21 kills, 22 digs and added 4 aces in the tournament. So far this season, Pilkey has 339.5 points, 326 digs and 286 kills (2nd in the league) overall. She also has 40 aces and 27 blocks. The team will advance to the NCAA Division III tournament for the third-straight year.
Defensive Player of the Year - Mikenzie Martens, Cortland
Martens was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team after she totaled 30 digs to help lead the No. 1 seeded Red Dragons to their third-straight women's volleyball conference title. So far this season, Martens is second in the league with 459 digs. She is part of a defense that shutout 10 teams and only allowed opponents to win 29 sets over 28 matches with just three losses overall. She also has 110 assists and 34 aces. Martens and her team will face Gettysburg College in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
Rookie of the Year - Kira Pirrera, Cortland
In her first season with the Red Dragons, Pirrera played in 73 sets totaling 140 kills, 44 digs and 27 blocks so far. She had a season high 16 points with 13 kills against second-seeded New Paltz on October 14. She will play in her first NCAA Division III tournament on Thursday, November 16.
Coach of the Year - Erin Glickert, Cortland
Glickert, in her fifth year as Cortland's women's volleyball head coach, earns her third-straight SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors. In 2023, she led the Red Dragons to their third-straight and 22nd ovearall conference championship title after going undefeated against conference opponents. Glickert coached six all-conference team selections including the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year winners. The team will move on to its third straight NCAA Division III tournament appearance and 27th overall as part of an eight-team regional hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Cortland (25-3) will open against Gettysburg College (23-5) in the first round on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 4:30 p.m.
2023 SUNYAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference (PDF)
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown/High School |
|
First Team |
||||
Jordan Thompson |
Sr. |
OH |
Brockport |
Ashburn, VA/ Stone Bridge |
Alexa Guedez |
Jr. |
MB |
Cortland |
Mamaroneck/ Rye Neck |
Mikenzie Martens |
Jr, |
L |
Cortland |
Carthage/ Carthage |
Anna Pilkey |
Jr. |
OH |
Cortland |
Ballston Spa/ Ballston Spa |
Jamie Albrecht |
Jr. |
RS |
New Paltz |
Port Jefferson/ Springfield |
Mackenzie Williams |
Sr. |
OH |
New Paltz |
Windsor/ Windsor Central |
Second Team |
|
|
|
|
Lexy Bloss |
Jr. |
MB |
Cortland |
York, PA/ Dallastown Area |
Linda Rossi |
Sr. |
OH |
Geneseo |
Thornwood/ Valhalla |
Julia Wallace |
Sr. |
OPP |
Geneseo |
Ithaca/ Ithaca |
Cate Digiacomo |
Sr. |
S |
New Paltz |
West Hartford, CT/ Conard |
Letisha Perez |
Jr. |
MH |
New Paltz |
Dominican Republic/ Gregorio Luperon |
Payton Zophy |
Sr. |
OH |
Plattsburgh |
Clifton Park/ Shenendehowa |
Third Team |
|
|
|
|
Kaitlyn Jewett |
Fr. |
S |
Brockport |
Penfield/ Penfield |
Alenna Williamson |
So. |
MB |
Brockport |
Roanoke, VA/ Rockbridge |
Kira Pirrera |
Fr. |
RS |
Cortland |
Smithtown West/ Hauppauge |
Allie Sturgess |
Sr. |
OH |
Cortland |
Stony Brook/ Ward Melville |
Cecilia Dignan |
Sr. |
DS |
Geneseo |
Millbrook/ Millbrook |
Madison Gamberg |
Jr. |
MB |
Geneseo |
Rockville Centre, South Side |
Ashanti Davis |
Sr. |
MB |
Oneonta |
Cortlandt Manor, Hendrick Hudson |