Rexford, NY--- The Sage Colleges athletic department gathered on April 26 at the Mohawk River Country Club and Chateau to bestow the program’s top awards for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Sage, which now boasts 10 varsity athletic teams that compete as an NCAA Division III member and a full-member of the Skyline Athletic Conference, handed out a Gator of the Year award as the team’s Most Valuable Player Award in each sport as well as other honors at the banquet as athletic department staff, the college’s dignitaries, families and friends gathered to salute the excellence that occurred in 2009-2010 at Sage. By next fall, Sage will field 12 varsity teams with the addition of men’s cross country and men’s soccer to the fold.

2009-2010 Sage Sport-by-Sport Awards and honorees 
(Gator of the Year is the team’s Most Valuable Player Award)

Men’s Volleyball:

Gator of the Year:      Kyle Ray (Fr., S/OH, Horseheads, NY/Horseheads)

(A leader on the first men’s volleyball team at Sage, Kyle served as a team co-captain this year. By year’s end, he was named to the 2010 Skyline Conference All-Star Second Team after he added 279 digs, which led the team and ranked fourth in the league. He finished the season with a team-leading 272 kills, good enough for a 3.32 kills per set average. He also ranked among the NCAA Division III statistical leaders as he finished fifth nationally with his 3.4 digs per set average. Ray ranked sixth in the Skyline Conference with his per set average and added 26 serving aces as well in his 82 sets played on the year. He was a two-time Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week for the Gators.)

Rookie of the Year:    Anthony Gerace (Fr., S/Opp, East Greenbush, NY/Columbia)

(The Gators’ other co-captain, Anthony closed his first season ranked among the national leaders in setting assists as he was 30th in Division III. He handed out an impressive 618 setting assists and finished the year ranked fourth in the conference with 7.54 per set. He also added 46 total blocks and ranked ninth with his 0.49 per set average. He was another of the young Gators having earned Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week honors twice this past season. He also contributed 58 kills and 146 digs with a team-high 29 serving aces.)

Most Improved Player:         Ryan Couch (Fr., MH, Nyskayuna, NY/Colonie)

(Over the course of the 2010 season, Ryan made significant strides in his game with the Gators. He capped the season by earning Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week in the final week of the season for Sage. The middle hitter tallied 109 kills with 121 digs on the year, while adding 40 blocks.)