2009 All-SSC Volleyball Team Announced
Twenty-three student-athletes have been named to the 2009 All-Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Team. Tampa’s Melissa Vanderhall was named the Player of the Year for the second straight season. Nova Southeastern’s Carly Perschnick was selected Freshman of the Year, and Saint Leo’s Sam Cibrone was tabbed Coach of the Year.
Voting for the all-conference volleyball team is conducted among the league’s volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
Joining Vanderhall on the All-SSC First Team were: OH Lydee Benoit (Eckerd), OPP Julia Borecka (Florida Southern), OH Emily Calderon-Reyes (Saint Leo), OH Kaleigh Cunningham (Tampa), MB Kaitlin McKenna (Saint Leo), S Michelle Nogueras (Saint Leo), and L Kathleen Yony (Nova Southeastern).
Earning All-SSC Second Team recognition were: MB Danielle Bletso (Saint Leo), OH Nikki Hartman (Rollins), S Valia Petrova (Nova Southeastern), OH Bruna Rocha (Saint Leo), S Meghan Sherman (Tampa), OPP Julia Teixiera (Barry), L Julie Howlett (Tampa), and L Lacy Redwine (Lynn).
Seven student-athletes were also selected for the All-Freshman Team. Joining Perschnick on the squad were: OH/MB Caitlyn Ballweber (Florida Tech), MB Taylor Manning (Eckerd), OH Mikayla Pierce (Rollins), OH Anne Pietkiewicz (Florida Southern), MB Danielle Selkridge (Tampa), and RS Chelsey Semprini (Lynn).
A junior from Hempstead, N.Y., Vanderhall receives her second consecutive Player of the Year recognition. She is averaging 3.78 kills, 1.82 digs, and 0.55 blocks per set. Vanderhall ranks second in the conference in kills per set, and she elevated her game even more against conference opponents, ranking first with a conference-only average of 4.06 kills per frame. Her .351 hitting percentage ranks third in the league.
A native of Dwight, Ill., Perschnick averaged 2.68 kills, 0.73 blocks, and 0.38 digs per set. Her .331 hitting percentage ranks fifth among SSC players.
Currently in his fifth season at the helm, Cibrone led the Lions to a share of the program’s first SSC title. Saint Leo tallied a 28-3 overall record and a 15-1 conference mark. The squad is set to make its fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance, receiving the No. 2 seed for this week’s South Region Championship. The Lions rank among the SSC’s leaders in nearly every statistical category. They place first with an opponent hitting percentage of .169. They rank second in team hitting percentage (.270), assists (13.08 per set), kills (14.28), and blocks (2.26).
2009 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM
OH – Lydee Benoit (Eckerd, Senior)
OPP – Julia Borecka (Florida Southern, Senior)
OH – Emily Calderon-Reyes (Saint Leo, Junior)
OH – Kaleigh Cunningham (Tampa, Junior)
MB – Kaitlin McKenna (Saint Leo, Junior)
S – Michelle Nogueras (Saint Leo, Senior)
OH – Melissa Vanderhall (Tampa, Junior)
L – Kathleen Yony (Nova Southeastern, Junior)
Player of the Year – Melissa Vanderhall, Tampa
Freshman of the Year – Carly Perschnick, Nova Southeastern
Coach of the Year – Sam Cibrone, Saint Leo
SECOND TEAM
MB – Danielle Bletso (Saint Leo, Sophomore)
OH – Nikki Hartman (Rollins, Senior)
S – Valia Petrova (Nova Southeastern, Senior)
OH – Bruna Rocha (Saint Leo, Junior)
S – Meghan Sherman (Tampa, Junior)
OPP – Julia Teixiera (Barry, Junior)
L – Julie Howlett (Tampa, Sophomore)
L – Lacy Redwine (Lynn, Junior)
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
OH/MB – Caitlyn Ballweber (Florida Tech)
MB – Taylor Manning (Eckerd)
MB – Carly Perschnick (Nova Southeastern)
OH – Mikayla Pierce (Rollins)
OH – Anne Pietkiewicz (Florida Southern)
MB – Danielle Selkridge (Tampa)
RS – Chelsey Semprini (Lynn)