NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The College of New Rochelle sophomore Cristal Michelle Liciaga (San Juan, Puerto Rico) has been selected as the 2017 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year as the 2017 All-HVIAC Women's Volleyball Team was announced at the HVIAC Championships at the CNR Wellness Center on Saturday evening.
A three-time Player of the Week selection, Liciaga earns All-Conference honors for the second straight season. The setter/opposite hitter averaged 6.0 assists, 3.17 kills and 0.42 blocks per set to lead the Blue Angels to a 4-0 mark in league play this season—all straight-set victories. A six-rotation player, she also recorded five triple-doubles over CNR's 18-10 campaign.
Pratt Institute freshman outside hitter Emelen Mikelic (Grand Rapids, Mich.) was named Rookie of the Year after finishing second in the league with 3.2 kills per set in league play. The two-time Rookie of the Week and one-time Player of the Week finished her freshman campaign with 177 kills, 183 digs and 42 aces for the 10-9 Cannoneers.
Leading Davis College to a second-place finish in her first year at the helm, Falcons head coach Alainey Banks was named 2017 Coach of the Year.
In total, nine women were honored with All-HVIAC recognition for outstanding play during the regular season and three were repeat honorees.
The HVIAC All-Conference Team, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year are selected by the conference's women's volleyball coaches.
Jamie Brown * | Davis | Sr. | Oakvale, W.Va. | |
Imani DeBose | New Rochelle | So. | OH | Carson, Calif. |
Simaima Fukofuka | New Rochelle | So. | MB | Garden Grove, Calif. |
Dekka Hunley * | King's | Sr. | OH | Prescott, Ariz. |
Sarah Levine | Culinary | So. | Allegany, N.Y. | |
Brooke Lewandowski | Davis | So. | Buffalo, N.Y. | |
Cristal Michelle Liciaga * | New Rochelle | So. | S/RS | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Emelen Mikelic | Pratt | Fr. | OH | Grand Rapids, Mich. |
Alivia Senevoravong | Pratt | Fr. | S | Akron, Ohio |
* Denotes 2016 All-Conference Team selection
Player of the Year - Cristal Michelle Liciaga (College of New Rochelle)
Rookie of the Year - Emelen Mikelic (Pratt Institute)
Coach of the Year - Alainey Banks (Davis College)