HYDE PARK, N.Y. – Sarah Lawrence College defeated the Culinary Institute of America, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 26-24) to win the 2012 Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship on Sunday evening at the Culinary Institute Student Recreation Center.
The No. 2 seed Gryphons earned a spot in their first championship game since 2008, notching a straight set triumph over Medgar Evers College in the quarterfinals and a 3-1 victory over the College of New Rochelle in the semifinals, their only blemish in the tournament.
Tournament host and defending champion Culinary advanced to their second straight title game in as many years since joining the league, defeating Pratt in the quarterfinals and top-seeded St. Joseph’s in the semifinals, both in four-set affairs.
Sophomore right side hitter Kitty O’Sullivan led Sarah Lawrence and earned Tournament MVP honors after posting a tournament-leading 39 kills and .294 hitting percentage. In the championship game, O’Sullivan put away a match-high 16 kills to go along with an ace and two assisted blocks.
Head coach Krishna Dass was named Coach of the Year, leading the Gryphons to their first volleyball championship in school history, and finishing with a 18-13 mark.
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2012 HVWAC Volleyball Championships
Tournament Recaps
Tournament Leaders
Quarterfinals
#2 Sarah Lawrence def. #7 Medgar Evers, 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-13)
#3 New Rochelle def. #6 Yeshiva, 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-13)
#4 Culinary def. #5 Pratt, 3-1 (14-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21)
Semifinals
#4 Culinary def. #1 St.
Joseph's, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 27-25)
#2 Sarah Lawrence def. #3 New Rochelle, 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-17)
Championship
#2 Sarah Lawrence def. #4 Culinary, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 26-24)
Tournament MVP
Kitty O'Sullivan, Sarah Lawrence - So. - Right Side Hitter
Tournament Champions
Sarah Lawrence College
Regular Season Champions
St. Joseph's College
2012 All-Conference Team
| Molly Busk | Sarah Lawrence | Fr. | L | Corbett, OR |
| Laura Cipolletti | Culinary | Sr. | OH | Beckly, VA |
| Lauren GaNun | St. Joseph's | Fr. | MH | Breezy Point, NY |
| Shira Genauer | Yeshiva | Jr. | OPP | Seattle, WA |
| Carchande Catheline Joseph | Medgar Evers | Sr. | MH | Brooklyn, NY |
| Meghan King | New Rochelle | So. | OH | New City, NY |
| Kim Matthews * | St. Joseph's | Sr. | OH | Breezy Point, NY |
| Kristin McGinn | Culinary | So. | S/OPP | Hackettstown, NJ |
| Kitty O'Sullivan | Sarah Lawrence | So. | RS | Los Angeles, CA |
| Deniz Ozguven | Pratt | Jr. | OH | Ankara, Turkey |
| Nicole Rios | St. Joseph's | So. | OH | Astoria, NY |
| Dalila Rosado | New Rochelle | Sr. | OH | Vega Baja, PR |
| Zoe Spanbroek | Sarah Lawrence | Fr. | OH | Boca Raton, FL |
* Denotes 2011 All-Conference Team selection
2012 Coach of the Year
Krishna Dass, Sarah Lawrence