Finch, Cianciulli, Callahan and Melfy Highlight PSAC East Volleyball All-Conference Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released the 2021 PSAC East Volleyball major awards winners and all-conference teams on Thursday afternoon. East Stroudsburg University setter Ali Finch was named Athlete of the Year, Bloomsburg University libero Alyssa Cianciulli was named Defensive Athlete of the Year, Millersville University’s Caitlyn Callahan was named Rookie of the Year, and East Stroudsburg head coach Tricia Melfy was named Coach of the Year.
The all-conference and major award winners are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
This season, the all-conference teams were a first and second team from both the PSAC East and West consisting of eight players each.
East Stroudsburg’s Ali Finch led the Warriors back to the PSAC Tournament to defend their 2019 title. She recorded 799 assists in 100 sets for an average of 7.99 per set. Finch also leads the team in kills and service aces. This season, she garnered three PSAC East Athlete of the Week honors.
Bloomsburg’s Alyssa Cianciulli led the Huskies to their first PSAC Tournament appearance in program history. She leads the nation in digs per set with seven. This season she recorded a PSAC leading 749 digs. Cianciulli is also on the league leaderboard with 38 service aces. The libero earned three PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honors.
Caitlyn Callahan of Millersville ranks second in the PSAC with 129 total blocks. In 117 sets, she averaged 1.10 blocks per set. She also sits in second place in the league with 428.5 points. Callahan was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week following a week where she recorded 20 kills, 13 total blocks, and eight digs.
Tricia Melfy earned the Coach of the Year honor in her first season at the helm of the Warriors. East Stroudsburg finished first in the PSAC East and returned to the league championship tournament to defend its 2019 conference title. Under Melfy’s direction, three of her players received all-conference honors.
A full list of honorees is below.
Athlete of the Year: Ali Finch, East Stroudsburg
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Alyssa Cianciulli, Bloomsburg
Rookie of the Year: Caitlyn Callahan, Millersville
Coach of the Year: Tricia Melfy, East Stroudsburg
PSAC VOLLEYBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| Jamie Byrne |
West Chester |
R-Fr. |
Bethlehem, Pa. / Liberty |
| Caitlyn Callahan |
Millersville |
R-Fr. |
Wellsboro, Pa. / Wellsboro |
| Alyssa Cianciulli^ |
Bloomsburg |
Gr. |
Royersford, Pa. / La Salle |
| Ali Finch |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
Cadillac, Mich. / Ball State |
| Mikaylah Hoy |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
Sharpsburg, Md. / Heritage Academy |
| Lauren Lucas |
Millersville |
Fr. |
Grove City, Ohio / Grove City |
| Georgia Ohmke |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
Falls Church, Va. Justice |
| Julia Vreeswyk |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury |
PSAC VOLLEYBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| Sydney Buell |
Bloomsburg |
Sr. |
Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury |
| Emily Gardner |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Avon, Ohio / Avon |
| Kenzie Gulmont |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
Temecula, Calif. / Utah Valley |
| Emily Meredith |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
Canton, Mich. / Canton |
| Olivia Rudjord |
West Chester |
Gr. |
Fogelsville, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic |
| Erin Patterson |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Garnet Valley, Pa. / Garnet Valley |
| Sydney Wilson |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Bethlehem, Pa. / Liberty |
| Rachel Verhoef |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Greencastle, Pa. / Greencastle-Antrim |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
+ Indicates previous All-PSAC third team selection
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.