Centerville, MA The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team collected a spot in the upcoming 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate Division III Volleyball Tournament. The Gators, 20-12, are making the team's first ECAC tournament appearance under the leadership of Sandy Augstein-Collins after also appearing in the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament as well.
ECAC Upstate Bracket
First Round – Wednesday, November 7
No. 8 Rutgers-Newark (15-12) NYU (17-14), 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 The Sage Colleges (20-12) at Elmira College (21-12), 5:00 p.m.
No. 6 Hunter College (20-12) at No. 3 Rutgers-Camden (22-7), 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 SUNY Potsdam (23-16) at No. 4 Kean University (27-10), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, November 10 at highest remaining seed
No. 1/No. 8 winner vs. No. 4/No. 5 winner, Time TBA
No. 2/No. 7 winner vs. No. 3/No. 6 winner, Time TBA
Championship – Saturday, November 10 at highest remaining seed
Two Semifinal Winners, Time TBA
To Be Determined
The Gators have earned the No. 7 seed in the ECAC tournament and will travel to the No. 2 seeded Elmira College Soaring Eagles (21-12), that finished as a semifinalist in the 2012 Empire 8 Tournament. With 20 wins this fall, the Gators' performance marks the team's second 20-win season in recent years. In 2008, the Gators went 24-12 and won the league's championship tournament as well as the team's second NCAA Tournament Appearance.
Junior setter Joanie Cooney (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) is once again enjoying a team-leading campaign as she moves up the career setting assist list. A two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Week, Cooney is a starter in 32 matches and has played in 110 sets. On the season, she has 72 kills with 298 digs. She leads the team with her 928 setting assists, which is a personal-best for the junior, who is also a candidate for the 2012 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team. Overall on her career, her resume includes 205 kills, 770 digs, 102 aces and 2,379 setting assists. A team co-captain this fall, she is second on Sage's career setting assist list with her numbers, while her 7.25 assists per game average in No. 3 on the career list.
Sage's sophomore hitter Helen Putriment (Troy, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) leads the Gators with her 298 kills this fall in 99 sets played. On the season, she has 396 digs with a .925 reception % as well, which is tops among 2012 starters. On her career, she continues to climb the Gator kills list as she is No. 7 with 675 as she is now tied for the No. 7 spot with Kellie Jones (2006-2009). She is also a candidate for the 2012 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team.
Rookie Mickey Mango (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga) now has 162 kills and 44 digs. She also leads the Gators with her 58 blocks, including 31 solo blocks.
The one-two punch that is rookie twin sisters, Kelsey Ray (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) and Kera Ray (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) have had opponents seeing double as well. Kelsey has 161 kills with 27 aces and 119 digs, while Kera has 89 kills with 34 aces and 133 digs.
Sophomore Jillian Schwab (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville Manlius) has connected for 130 kills this fall in 32 matches played. She has a team-best 42 aces as well and now has 101 digs with 22 blocks.
Sophomore libero and 2012 Gator co-captain, Katelyn Drollette (Cadyville, NY/Saranac) has played in 108 sets this fall. She has a team-best 431 digs and now has 585 career digs. She has 36 aces this fall and has elevated her career resume to include 69 aces.
Another Gator newcomer, Morgan Robinson (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) has 170 kills with 162 digs and 17 blocks. Also adding the team's success this fall has been sophomore middle hitter Ciera Holt (Delanson, NY/Duanseburg). Holt has played in 36 sets and has 20 kills with 18 digs.
Rookies Kelly Rogers (Chaplain, NY/Northeastern Clinton Central) and Anna Lenihan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) are both continuing to see more time. Rogers has played in 19 sets and now has 11 digs, while Lenihan has played in 15 sets and has 11 digs.
