Posted: Nov 14, 2013
Junior Libero Grace Kucharski Earns Milestone AVCA All-New England Region Award
Complete AVCA Division III All-Region Teams
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Junior libero Grace Kucharski has earned the distinction of becoming the first all-region performer in the history of the Western New England University women's volleyball program as the American Volleyball Coaches' Association announced the AVCA Division III All-New England Team on Thursday. Kucharski, of Avon, Conn., now advances to the national ballot for All-America consideration.
"Earning the recognition as one of the top 14 players in all of New England is such an impressive honor," stated third-year head coach Bret Stothart. "Our program has had such talented players in our history, so to become the first Golden Bear to earn all-region really says a lot about Grace's outstanding play this season. She is obviously a big part of our team's success as we continue to set program records and raise our level of play year after year."
Kucharski is one of the region's top defensive players while currently pacing the Commonwealth Coast Conference with 5.01 digs per set and ranking second with 541 total. She also has set a career high with 92 assists and ranks fourth in the CCC with 59 service aces (8 shy of her career best). She was named the CCC Libero of the Year last week and has earned all-conference accolades three times with her first-team nod this fall.
Western New England is one of just two CCC institutions who have representation on the AVCA's all-region team.
The 23-9 Golden Bears will host the 2013 Eastern College Athletic Conference New England final four on Saturday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house. WNE captured the ECAC tournament championship a year ago for its first postseason title of any kind.
AVCA Division III All-New England Team (with name, school, position, class year)
Kristine Bunker MIT MB Sr.
Sydney Carfagno*** Wellesley College OH Jr.
Emily Doll Williams College RS Sr.
Ryan Farley Williams College S So.
Elizabeth Flaherty Roger Williams University OH So.
Traci Hamanaka** Wellesley College L Sr.
Lauren Holt Springfield College MB Fr.
Tori Jasuta Williams College OH Fr.
Grace Kucharski Western New England University L Jr.
Krystie Luczynski Roger Williams University MB Sr.
Kelsey McGayhey Springfield College OH So.
Whitney Miller Springfield College S Jr.
Raea Rasmussen Williams College MB Jr.
Tessa Smolinski*** Springfield College OH Sr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Tori Jasuta, Williams, OH
Honorable Mention: Hannah Brickley (Trinity (CT), OH, Sr.), Nicole Gagnier (MIT, S, Jr.), Elizabeth Glavan (UMass-Boston, L, Fr.), Amy Hart (Middlebury, OH, Sr.), Isabel Kuhel (Tufts, MB, Jr.), Brittany McMullen (Roger Williams, MB, Fr.)
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Junior libero Grace Kucharski has earned the distinction of becoming the first all-region performer in the history of the Western New England University women's volleyball program as the American Volleyball Coaches' Association announced the AVCA Division III All-New England Team on Thursday. Kucharski, of Avon, Conn., now advances to the national ballot for All-America consideration.
"Earning the recognition as one of the top 14 players in all of New England is such an impressive honor," stated third-year head coach Bret Stothart. "Our program has had such talented players in our history, so to become the first Golden Bear to earn all-region really says a lot about Grace's outstanding play this season. She is obviously a big part of our team's success as we continue to set program records and raise our level of play year after year."
Kucharski is one of the region's top defensive players while currently pacing the Commonwealth Coast Conference with 5.01 digs per set and ranking second with 541 total. She also has set a career high with 92 assists and ranks fourth in the CCC with 59 service aces (8 shy of her career best). She was named the CCC Libero of the Year last week and has earned all-conference accolades three times with her first-team nod this fall.
Western New England is one of just two CCC institutions who have representation on the AVCA's all-region team.
The 23-9 Golden Bears will host the 2013 Eastern College Athletic Conference New England final four on Saturday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house. WNE captured the ECAC tournament championship a year ago for its first postseason title of any kind.
AVCA Division III All-New England Team (with name, school, position, class year)
Kristine Bunker MIT MB Sr.
Sydney Carfagno*** Wellesley College OH Jr.
Emily Doll Williams College RS Sr.
Ryan Farley Williams College S So.
Elizabeth Flaherty Roger Williams University OH So.
Traci Hamanaka** Wellesley College L Sr.
Lauren Holt Springfield College MB Fr.
Tori Jasuta Williams College OH Fr.
Grace Kucharski Western New England University L Jr.
Krystie Luczynski Roger Williams University MB Sr.
Kelsey McGayhey Springfield College OH So.
Whitney Miller Springfield College S Jr.
Raea Rasmussen Williams College MB Jr.
Tessa Smolinski*** Springfield College OH Sr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Tori Jasuta, Williams, OH
Honorable Mention: Hannah Brickley (Trinity (CT), OH, Sr.), Nicole Gagnier (MIT, S, Jr.), Elizabeth Glavan (UMass-Boston, L, Fr.), Amy Hart (Middlebury, OH, Sr.), Isabel Kuhel (Tufts, MB, Jr.), Brittany McMullen (Roger Williams, MB, Fr.)
