Posted: Dec 19, 2013
Spikers Honor Their Own at Athletics Fall Sports Banquet with Team Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Western New England University women's volleyball coach Bret Stothart announced the team's 2013 major award winners during the recent Golden Bears Athletics fall sports banquet at Rivers Memorial Hall: junior Grace Kucharski with the Golden Bear Teammate of the Year, classmate Kendra Ouimette as the Unsung Hero; and sophomore Kelsey Armstrong for the Iron Woman.
Kucharski, of Avon (Conn.) High School, displayed humility while achieving postseason accolades like no other in WNE women's volleyball history. She is the first All-American for the program after leading the Commonwealth Coast Conference with 5.05 digs per set and she broke her own school record with 586 total digs (574 in 2012). The defensive specialist also set a career high with 97 assists and ranked fourth in the CCC with 60 service aces (7 shy of her career best). She also became WNE's all-time leader with 1,626 digs, with her senior year left.
The business management major was an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England First-Team All-Star, CCC Libero of the Year while making all-conference first team, and repeated on the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Women's Volleyball First Team.
The Golden Bear Teammate of the Year is awarded to the player most exemplifying all the qualities of being a true teammate.
An outside hitter from Groton, Conn. (Fitch HS), Armstrong had a career year in most statistical categories. Coming off the bench while seeing limited action as a freshman, the secondary education - English major was determined to work on her skills and make more of an impact during her second season wearing the Royal Blue and Gold. She established personal records with 75 sets played, 29 matches, 14 starts, 169 kills, 91 digs and 18 total blocks. She more than tripled her freshman totals of 77 kills, 19 digs and zero blocks.
The Iron Woman Award goes to the hardest-working player on the team.
Ouimette, who is a defensive specialist from Conway, Mass. (Frontier Regional), put together another steady season with a team-best 61 service aces and 227 digs, which was third among Golden Bears. Her aces total was also good enough for third in the CCC. The criminal justice major, who also set personal bests for appearances (34), sets played (112) and starts (12), enters her senior season with 681 digs and 190 aces for her career.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to the player who is most deserving of greater recognition for her contributions to the team's success.
Kucharski, of Avon (Conn.) High School, displayed humility while achieving postseason accolades like no other in WNE women's volleyball history. She is the first All-American for the program after leading the Commonwealth Coast Conference with 5.05 digs per set and she broke her own school record with 586 total digs (574 in 2012). The defensive specialist also set a career high with 97 assists and ranked fourth in the CCC with 60 service aces (7 shy of her career best). She also became WNE's all-time leader with 1,626 digs, with her senior year left.
The business management major was an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England First-Team All-Star, CCC Libero of the Year while making all-conference first team, and repeated on the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Women's Volleyball First Team.
The Golden Bear Teammate of the Year is awarded to the player most exemplifying all the qualities of being a true teammate.
An outside hitter from Groton, Conn. (Fitch HS), Armstrong had a career year in most statistical categories. Coming off the bench while seeing limited action as a freshman, the secondary education - English major was determined to work on her skills and make more of an impact during her second season wearing the Royal Blue and Gold. She established personal records with 75 sets played, 29 matches, 14 starts, 169 kills, 91 digs and 18 total blocks. She more than tripled her freshman totals of 77 kills, 19 digs and zero blocks.
The Iron Woman Award goes to the hardest-working player on the team.
Ouimette, who is a defensive specialist from Conway, Mass. (Frontier Regional), put together another steady season with a team-best 61 service aces and 227 digs, which was third among Golden Bears. Her aces total was also good enough for third in the CCC. The criminal justice major, who also set personal bests for appearances (34), sets played (112) and starts (12), enters her senior season with 681 digs and 190 aces for her career.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to the player who is most deserving of greater recognition for her contributions to the team's success.
