Albany, NY – The Sage College’s had three student-athletes recognized as the scholar-athlete of the year in their sport with the announcement of the Fall of 2013 Skyline Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Senior women’s tennis player, Nicole Riley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) was cited for her excellence on the tennis court and in the classroom, while senior setter Joanie Cooney (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) was named the Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women’s volleyball. In men’s cross country, sophomore Juan Reyes-Alvarez (Latham, NY/Shaker) was cited for his efforts as well.
2013 Skyline Conference Fall Scholar-Athlete to the Year
Men’s Soccer: Sean Lockwood, Mount Saint Mary
Women’s Soccer: Ashley George, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Women’s Tennis: Nicole Riley, Sage
Men’s Golf: Matt Pollock, Farmingdale State
Women’s Volleyball: Joanie Cooney, Sage / Julianne Tierney, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Men’s Cross Country: Juan Reyes-Alvarez, Sage
Women’s Cross Country: Lauren Waka, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Cooney, who was named to th3 2013 Skyline Conference All-Star First Team as a setter, lead Sage with her 570 setting assists, while contributing 50 kills, 16 aces and 169 digs. She is No. 2 all-time on the career setting assist list at Sage with her 2,973 setting assists in 124 matches played. She had 949 career digs as well in 413 career sets played. She was also a candidate for the 2013 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team for excellent work in the classroom and on the court. She helped the Gators finish the season as the 2013 Skyline Conference runner-up, while garnering a spot in the ECAC Division III Tournament.
Riley, who played at No. 2 singles for the Gators this fall, was a 2013 Skyline Conference All-Star First Team pick. She combined with 2013 Skyline Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, junior Kirsten Ackerman to lead the Gators at No. 1 doubles. Riley, who was a two-year letterwinner for the Gators, went 6-7 in singles this past fall with a 6-5 record in dual match action.
Sage’s sophomore runner Juan Reyes-Alvarez finished in third place at the 2013 Skyline Conference Championship with his time of 28:33.00 and earned his second consecutive Skyline Conference All-Star First selection for his efforts and becomes the young program's first two-time Skyline Conference All-Star honoree. A year ago, he finished in fifth place at the championship as a rookie.