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CACC HONORS FRESHMAN TRIO, HRBEK WITH VOLLEYBALL YEAR-END AWARDS
11-11-08
CALDWELL,
N.J. - After posting a record of 4-41 over its first two years of existence,
the Caldwell College volleyball team has made an amazing turnaround this
season, finishing the regular season with a 17-10 record and winning the
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division. Accordingly, three freshmen
and head coach Megan Hrbek were among the honorees as the CACC
released its annual awards today. Hrbek was chosen the conference's Coach of
the Year, while right side Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive)
was named to the all-CACC first team, setter
Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) made the second team and middle
blocker Titilola Alao (Ossining, NY/Ossining) received all-CACC
honorable mention.
Hrbek has built the team from the ground up since arriving in 2006, when
Caldwell re-established its volleyball program after it was discontinued in
1991. Her first team consisted of walk-on student athletes and did not win a
match. Last season the Cougars went 4-24, including 4-13 in the CACC, to
finish last in the CACC North Division. This year's squad dominated the
North Division, going 9-1 against divisional opponents while also defeating
Holy Family University, which finished second in the CACC South. The season,
which included a seven-match winning streak, will culminate in the program's
first appearance in the CACC Tournament this week. A native of Madison,
Ohio, Hrbek is the third coach at Caldwell to be named the conference's
coach of the year this fall, joining women's soccer coach Nate Guagliardi
and men's soccer coach Jamie Nash.
Mosher made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season, leading the
Cougars in kills per set (2.72) while recording a hitting percentage of .245
on the year. She was named the CACC Rookie of the Week on Sept. 29 after
recording 3.09 kills per set and hitting .373. In a five-set victory at the
University of the Sciences on Oct. 18, Mosher tallied a career-high 19
kills. She also had two double-doubles during the season.
 Mosher |
 Roth |
 Alao |
Roth established herself as one of the top setters in the league in her
debut campaign, ranking fifth in the CACC in assists per set (7.77). Twice
named the CACC Player of the Week on Sept. 22 and Oct. 27, Roth is the only
CACC player to receive the ECAC Player of the Week award this season. She
averaged 9.75 assists and 3.2 digs per set in three victories to earn the
ECAC's top weekly honor on Oct. 30. A versatile player, Roth also ranks
first on the team in service aces and fourth in digs and blocks.
Alao also was honored by the CACC during the season, earning Rookie of the
Week accolades on Oct. 6 after tallying 2.45 kills per set. She leads the
team in hitting percentage (.259) after hitting at least .300 in nine
matches. Alao also paces the Cougars in blocks per set (0.95), with a career
high of eight blocks against Concordia on Oct. 18. She also had a
career-best 17 kills in a five-set triumph against Molloy on Oct. 2.
The Cougars host Nyack College in a CACC Tournament quarterfinal match
tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.
2008 All-CACC Volleyball Team
First Team
Ann Casado, OH, Georgian Court, Sr., Brick, NJ
Caitlin Hess, MH, Wilmington, Sr., Newark, DE
Katie Hornback, RS, Holy Family, Fr., Indianapolis, IN
Amber Mosher, RS, Caldwell, Fr., Flanders, NJ
Stephanie Rivera, MH, Georgian Court, Jr., Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Claire Tauschek, L, USP, Sr., Verona, WI
Sonia Perez, S, Bloomfield, Sr., San Jose, Costa Rica
Second Team
Nicole Berkstresser, RS, Philadelphia, Jr., Bridgewater, NJ
Ana Cruz, L, Georgian Court, Jr., Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Lisamary Figueroa, S, Georgian Court, Jr., Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Celeste Lindsey, MB, Bloomfield, Sr., Cincinnati, OH
Janelle Murdock, OH, Georgian Court, Jr., Manahawkin, NJ
Celena Rendon, OH, Philadelphia, Jr., San Antonio, TX
Lauren Roth, S, Caldwell, Fr., Findlay, OH
Kerry Smith, OH, Post, Sr., Lynbrook, NY
Honorable Mention: Titilola Alao, Fr., MB, Caldwell; Ashley
Carberry, Sr., MH, Wilmington; Aimee Drabyn, So., S, Holy Family; Mallory
Lennon, So., MB, Holy Family; Molly Malone, Jr., MH, Philadelphia
Player of the Year: Ann Casado, Georgian Court
Rookie of the Year: Katie Hornback
Coach of the Year: Megan Hrbek, Caldwell
Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack