Seton Hill's Farian Grabs PSAC Volleyball Athlete of the Year Award; All-Conference Teams Released
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. ---Seton Hill sophomore Viktoria Farian has been named the 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Volleyball Athlete of the Year, the league announced Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the release of the all-conference volleyball teams.
All-conference teams and major award winners are decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Farian is the first Griffin to earn the award and is only the second SHU individual to win a major award (Lauren Teed). The sophomore claimed PSAC Southwest Athlete of the Week on three occasions throughout the season. Farian was a major contributor Tuesday in SHU’s 3-1 PSAC Quarterfinal win against Clarion. She amassed 15 kills, 19 digs and an ace. The Griffins will battle Shippensburg in a semifinal Friday at 5 p.m. Farian played a role in the SHU offense that ranks second in the PSAC in hitting percentage (.225). Farian is tied for sixth in the PSAC in total kills (373) while sitting tied for eighth in kills per set (3.49). The Griffin is seventh in points per set (4.02) and fifth in total points (430). She is currently riding an 11-match streak of double-digit kills. She recorded a season-high 20 kills against Clarion (Nov. 2) and has been held to single-digit kills on only six occasions.
Clarion redshirt-sophomore Chrissy Cotton claimed the Defensive Athlete of the Year award. She is the third Golden Eagle to garner the honor and first since 2014. Cotton paced the PSAC in total digs (738) and was third all NCAA DII. She averaged 6.36 digs per set; which was third-best in the PSAC. CU currently sits at No. 5 in the NCAA DII Atlantic Region, with the top eight institutions making the NCAA DII Championship field.
Gannon’s Lauren Sampson garnered the Freshman of the Year award and is the fourth Golden Knight to accomplish and first since 2013. Sampson impressed throughout the season while accumulating 286 kills and 3.21 per set. She ranks in the top 15 in the PSAC in both categories. The Golden Knight is tied for sixth in aces per set (0.40) while accumulating 36 on the season. Sampson is 10th in the PSAC in points per set (3.79). Sampson and the Golden Knights will serve host to the PSAC Semifinals and Final Friday (Nov. 9) and Saturday (Nov. 10).
GU’s Matt Darling was tabbed the Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career and second time in the last three seasons. GU entered the week at No. 21 in the NCAA DII Rankings and No. 2 in the Atlantic Region. Following a trip to the NCAA DII Final Four last season, Darling’s squad hasn’t missed a step after earning the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Championship and currently boasting a 29-1 overall record. Under his direction, four Golden Knights earned all-conference recognition, including two first-team representatives. GU leads the league in hitting percentage (.255), opponent hitting percentage (.102), assists per set (12.98), kills per set (13.85) and aces per set (2.40). GU will face California in a semi at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
West Chester senior Jillian Grammer appeared on her fourth all-conference team while SU’s Morgan DeFloria and WCU’s Nicki Yates appear on their third.
A full list of honorees is below.
PSAC Volleyball Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Viktoria Farian, Seton Hill
Defensive Player of the Year: Chrissy Cotton, Clarion
Freshman of the Year:Lauren Sampson, Gannon
Coach of the Year: Matt Darling, Gannon
PSAC VOLLEYBALL FIRST-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| S |
Ashley Beyers |
Gannon |
So. |
Lanark, Ill. / Eastland |
| OH |
Maura Brehl+ |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
York, Pa. / York Suburban |
| OH |
Morgan DeFloria+^ |
Shippensburg |
Sr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area |
| OH |
Viktoria Farian |
Seton Hill |
So. |
Richfield, Ohio / Revere |
| S |
Emily Hangen^ |
Shippensburg |
So. |
Reading, Pa. / Exeter Township |
| OH |
Julia Holden+ |
Clarion |
Jr. |
Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick |
| OH |
Rachel Priore+ |
California |
Jr. |
Bartlett, Ill. / South Elgin |
| OH |
Lauren Sampson |
Gannon |
Fr. |
Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson |
| OH |
Sarah Smith+ |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Circleville, N.Y. / Pine Bush |
| RS |
Jayci Suseland |
Millersville |
Jr. |
Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft |
PSAC VOLLEYBALL SECOND-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| MB |
Leah Bisignani* |
Seton Hill |
R-Jr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic |
| L/DS |
Chrissy Cotton |
Clarion |
R-So. |
Fairview Park, Ohio / Magnificat |
| S |
Jillian Grammer^+* |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Center Valley, Pa. / Southern Lehigh |
| OH/RS |
Cierah Jackson^ |
Edinboro |
So. |
Berea, Ohio / Padua Franciscan |
| MB |
Erinn Kahoe |
Slippery Rock |
So. |
Richfield, Ohio / Revere |
| S/RS |
Ashley McClung |
Gannon |
Fr. |
Charleston, W.Va. / George Washington |
| MB |
Olivia Olson |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland |
| OH |
Ally Smith^ |
Gannon |
Jr. |
Penfield, N.Y. / Webster Schroeder |
| RS |
Lois van Schaik |
California |
Sr. |
Naarden, Netherlands / St. Vituscollege |
| MB |
Samantha Webber* |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Coplay, Pa. / Parkland |
PSAC VOLLEYBALL THIRD-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| OH |
Katie Baird |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
North Royalton, Ohio / North Royalton |
| OH |
Lindsey Blevins |
Millersville |
So. |
Red Lion, Pa. / Red Lion |
| MB |
Allie Duffy |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle |
| MB |
Jessica Hanson |
Seton Hill |
Jr. |
Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park |
| OH |
Brittney Moyer |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Orwigsburg, Pa. / Lock Haven |
| MB |
Shayla Ray |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
Columbiana, Ohio / Columbiana |
| S |
Leah Vensel |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Erie, Pa. / McDowell |
| L |
Shaye Whiteman |
Lock Haven |
R-So. |
Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg |
| MB |
Jasmine Williams |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Pennsauken, N.J. / Camden Catholic |
| DS |
Nicki Yates^+ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Coopersburg, Pa. / Southern Lehigh |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
+ Indicates previous All-PSAC third team selection