GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced the 21 student-athletes receiving recognition on its 2017 Women’s Volleyball All-Conference Team. The conference office also released the recipients of the four individual honors with all of the annual awards determined by the conference coaches.

Gallaudet University senior Darriyan Thomas (Vallejo, Calif.) has been named NEAC Player of the Year for the second-straight season. An outside hitter for the Bison, Thomas has been recognized as NEAC Player of the Week four times this season. She has started 31 matches and leads the NEAC in kills (412), kills per set (3.65), total attacks (1,254), points (492.5) and points per set (4.4). Thomas’s outstanding play has earned her a spot of three different All-Tournament teams this season and Most Valuable Player honors at the Worthington Classic. A three-time All-Conference First Team selection, Thomas has garnered numerous honors throughout her career including 2016 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and two NEAC Scholar-Athlete designations.

A vital part of the Penn State Berks defensive back line, Madison Wojciechowski (Blandon, Pa.) has been selected as the NEAC Defensive Player of the Year. The sophomore libero has appeared in all 27 matches for the Nittany Lions and is the league-leader in digs (517) and digs per set (5.56). Wojciechowski has recorded double-digits in digs in every contest this season and has picked up 20 or more digs in 14 contests. In a non-conference match against Marywood University, she totaled a career-high 39 digs. In addition to her defensive numbers, Wojciechowski has 31 assists, 37 service aces and eight kills. A two-time NEAC Defensive Player of the Week, Wojciechowski is also a NEAC First Team selection.

Wells College rookie Rachel Anderson (St. Louis, Mo.) has been recognized as the NEAC Rookie of the Year. In 31 matches thus far, Anderson ranks second in kills (322), second in points (370.5), third in block assist (57) and fifth in hitting percentage (.259). She also ranks eighth in total blocks (67) and ninth in total attacks (753). In an excellent first season, Anderson has recorded double-digit kills in 17 games. Her season-high came on Oct. 5 against Elmira when she finished with 22 kills. Anderson, who was named NEAC Player of the Week in September, was also chosen for a spot on the NEAC All-Conference First Team.

Wells College head coach Mark Lucas was selected as the NEAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career after guiding his team to the No. 1 seed in the North Division. In just his second season at the helm, the Express finished the regular season with an 18-12 overall record and currently lead the NEAC in kills (1,334), assists (1,240) and digs (1,824). Under Lucas’ leadership, four members of the Express received All-Conference accolades.  

2017 NEAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference Team

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University – Abington, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville State College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Pennsylvania State University – Altoona (M Volleyball), and Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf). The NEAC has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.