Posted: Oct 30, 2012
Stothart Named Coach of the Year to Headline All-CCC Volleyball Golden Bears
2012 All-CCC Volleyball Team Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Bret Stothart has been named the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year to headline the Western New England University contingent on the all-conference team, which was announced by the CCC on Tuesday. Golden Bears seniors Devyn Frank earned a spot on the first team, co-captain Heather Mears was named to the second unit and juniors Maureen Pollet, Tyler Singh and sophomore Grace Kucharski made honorable mention. Western New England tied Salve Regina for the most all-conference picks at five.
Stothart piloted Western New England to its first 20-win campaign since 2009 in just his second season at the helm and the team went from 15-15 in 2011 to 21-6 a year later, a 7-1/2 match improvement. The Golden Bears were predicted to finish in fourth place in the CCC preseason poll, but were in the race to finish atop the conference standings right up to the final day of the regular season--ending up tied for second with a 6-2 CCC mark. Western New England's signature win came on Oct. 24 when the Golden Bears downed three-time CCC champion Roger Williams, 3-1, to snap the Hawks' 27-match conference winning streak (dating to 2009) and hand them their first home loss in 29 matches. Going into the CCC Tournament, the Golden Bears rank third among CCC teams in the following categories: hitting percentage (.185), assists (10.43 aps), kills (11.31 kps), blocks (1.65 bps), service aces (2.13 saps) and digs (16.18 dps).
"Having five players named to the All-CCC team is a testament to the solid contributions of so many players in our program," Stothart said. "Our team’s success is not attributable to one or two players – or even five players; this year has been such an incredible team effort and everyone in our program can take pride in these honors knowing we all played a part in each other’s success."
Frank, who is a senior academically but will return for her final season of athletic eligibility next fall, leads the team in kills (256) and hitting percentage (.285) to go along with 0.66 blocks per set. The middle hitter from Mystic, Conn. (Fitch High School) ranks second in the CCC in hitting percentage and 10th in kills average (2.56).
Mears, of Amherst Regional High, tops the CCC with 909 total assists and ranks second with an 8.91 average. The setter has also contributed 205 digs, 26 service aces and 28 blocks.
An outside hitter from Dix Hills, N.Y. (Half Hollow Hills East HS), Pollet leads the team with 2.74 kills (200 total) which is good for sixth in the CCC. Also a 2011 All-CCC selection, she was named the conference player of the week on Sept. 17.
Singh, a middle hitter out of Dumont (N.J.) High, ranks second in both CCC total blocks (88) and block average (0.86). The CCC Player of the Week for Oct. 22 has contributed 186 kills and 66 digs.
Kucharski repeats as an all-conference honorable mention choice from her defensive specialist spot. The Avon (Conn.) High product tops the Golden Bears with 496 digs and 48 service aces. Her 4.77 digs per set is third in the CCC and she is a three-time conference libero of the week this season.
Voting for the All-CCC team and each of the major awards was conducted among CCC volleyball coaches.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Bret Stothart has been named the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year to headline the Western New England University contingent on the all-conference team, which was announced by the CCC on Tuesday. Golden Bears seniors Devyn Frank earned a spot on the first team, co-captain Heather Mears was named to the second unit and juniors Maureen Pollet, Tyler Singh and sophomore Grace Kucharski made honorable mention. Western New England tied Salve Regina for the most all-conference picks at five.
Stothart piloted Western New England to its first 20-win campaign since 2009 in just his second season at the helm and the team went from 15-15 in 2011 to 21-6 a year later, a 7-1/2 match improvement. The Golden Bears were predicted to finish in fourth place in the CCC preseason poll, but were in the race to finish atop the conference standings right up to the final day of the regular season--ending up tied for second with a 6-2 CCC mark. Western New England's signature win came on Oct. 24 when the Golden Bears downed three-time CCC champion Roger Williams, 3-1, to snap the Hawks' 27-match conference winning streak (dating to 2009) and hand them their first home loss in 29 matches. Going into the CCC Tournament, the Golden Bears rank third among CCC teams in the following categories: hitting percentage (.185), assists (10.43 aps), kills (11.31 kps), blocks (1.65 bps), service aces (2.13 saps) and digs (16.18 dps).
"Having five players named to the All-CCC team is a testament to the solid contributions of so many players in our program," Stothart said. "Our team’s success is not attributable to one or two players – or even five players; this year has been such an incredible team effort and everyone in our program can take pride in these honors knowing we all played a part in each other’s success."
Frank, who is a senior academically but will return for her final season of athletic eligibility next fall, leads the team in kills (256) and hitting percentage (.285) to go along with 0.66 blocks per set. The middle hitter from Mystic, Conn. (Fitch High School) ranks second in the CCC in hitting percentage and 10th in kills average (2.56).
Mears, of Amherst Regional High, tops the CCC with 909 total assists and ranks second with an 8.91 average. The setter has also contributed 205 digs, 26 service aces and 28 blocks.
An outside hitter from Dix Hills, N.Y. (Half Hollow Hills East HS), Pollet leads the team with 2.74 kills (200 total) which is good for sixth in the CCC. Also a 2011 All-CCC selection, she was named the conference player of the week on Sept. 17.
Singh, a middle hitter out of Dumont (N.J.) High, ranks second in both CCC total blocks (88) and block average (0.86). The CCC Player of the Week for Oct. 22 has contributed 186 kills and 66 digs.
Kucharski repeats as an all-conference honorable mention choice from her defensive specialist spot. The Avon (Conn.) High product tops the Golden Bears with 496 digs and 48 service aces. Her 4.77 digs per set is third in the CCC and she is a three-time conference libero of the week this season.
Voting for the All-CCC team and each of the major awards was conducted among CCC volleyball coaches.
