STANDISH, Maine – The 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's volleyball postseason accolades have been announced and three Saint Joseph's College players have been honored.
Sophomore outside hitter Victoria Briones (El Paso, Texas) has earned Second Team All-GNAC honors, senior defensive specialist Abby Jerome (Barrington, N.H.) has collected Third Team accolades, and freshman middle blocker Larisa Comolli (Nashua, N.H.) is listed on the GNAC All-Rookie Team.
Briones, a 2022 GNAC All-Rookie Team selection, collects All-Conference honors for the first time after leading the team in kills (257), kills per set (2.50), attacks (768), service aces (56), and digs (392). She capped the 2023 campaign ranked fifth in the conference in aces, ninth in digs, 10th in attacks, and 11th in aces per set (0.36) and digs per set (3.81).
In two seasons at Saint Joseph's Briones has recorded 455 kills, 759 digs, and 98 service aces in 217 sets.
Jerome also takes home All-Conference accolades for the first time after notching 49 service aces and 375 digs in 79 sets during her senior season. She led the team in aces per set (0.62) and digs per set (4.75) and ranked third in the conference in both statistical categories.
In 75 matches and 211 sets over three seasons, Jerome recorded 14 kills, 71 assists, 564 digs, and 65 service aces.
Comolli earns GNAC All-Rookie Team honors after dishing out 162 kills with team-highs in attack percentage (.249), block assists (56), and total blocks (69) as one of only three players to appear in all 31 of the Monks' matches this fall. She completed her freshman campaign ranked sixth in the GNAC in block assists and seventh in attack percentage and total blocks.
Saint Joseph's College posted a 15-16 overall record with a 10-6 mark in conference play this fall under the watch of sixth-year Head Coach Jon Roberts. The Monks clinched the #6 seed in the GNAC Tournament and upset seven-time reigning conference champion Johnson & Wales University, the #3 seed, with a 3-2 triumph in a quarterfinal on November 7th. The tournament loss was the Wildcats' first postseason setback since the 2014 campaign.
With the win, the Monks advanced to the semifinal round of the GNAC Tournament for the second time in team history – and first since the 2015 season – and suffered a hard fought defeat at the hands of second-seeded Regis College on November 9th.
2023 GNAC POSTSEASON HONORS:
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Claire Conners, Sr., Simmons
McKenna McCool, Jr., Lasell
Ahnasia Mckinney, Sr., Regis
Juliana Medini, Jr., Lasell
Peyton Oliver, Sr., Johnson & Wales
Carolina Rodriguez, Fy., Simmons
Lily Sills, Jr., Rivier
Chelsea Simmons, Gr., Simmons
Kamdyn Tenorio, Jr., Regis
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Victoria Briones, So., Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Bliss Brown, Jr., Mitchell
Isabella Marquez, So., Emmanuel
Sarah Miller, Sr., Johnson & Wales
Avery Mola, Fy., Regis
Jayla Parnell, Sr., Simmons
Aryam Serrano-Monserrate, Sr., Regis
Kat Simeonidis, Sr., Simmons
ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
Sari Albury, Sr., Dean
Shannon Carey, Sr., U. of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Rita Dow, Gr., Regis
Abby Jerome, Sr., Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Sydney Katz, So., Lasell
Hannah Pridgeon, Fy., Simmons
Torrance Robertson, Jr., New England College
Brynn Roche, Jr., Rivier
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Samiyah Cabrera, Elms
Larisa Comolli, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Grace Fabiano, Regis
Kason Huynh, Emmanuel
Avery Mola, Regis
Hannah Pridgeon, Simmons
Carolina Rodriguez, Simmons
Kelsie Tretera, Johnson & Wales
MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year - Chelsea Simmons, Simmons
Setter of the Year - Ahnasia Mckinney, Regis
Libero of the Year - Carolina Rodriguez, Simmons
Rookie of the Year - Kason Huynh, Emmanuel
Coach of the Year - Patrick Helmas, Simmons
Institutional Sportsmanship - Simmons
