NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Second-seeded Pratt Institute defeated Culinary Institute 3-1 in the semifinals before falling to top-seeded College of New Rochelle 3-0 in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship match Saturday evening.
Junior Rachel Goatley (Toledo, OH/Sylvania Southview) led the Cannoneers with 13 kills on the afternoon. Freshman Marlena Todd (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) and Julia Kubak (Istanbul, Turkey/ITU Ekrem Elginkan) combined for 23 kills, eight aces and seven blocks. Libero Talya Polat (Ankara, Turkey/TED Ankara College Foundation Private) defended 35 digs over the two matches, including a career-high 27 against Culinary.
"This was the best they played all season," said head coach Louis Sepulveda. "In the end, we fell to a team with more experience."
Sepulveda was recognized as HVIAC Coach of the Year and seniors Hannah Calderwood (Clinton, WA/South Whidbey) and Joan Wyeth (Ivoryton, CT/Valley Regional) were each named to the All-HVIAC team.
"Being named Coach of the Year was a shock," Sepulveda said. "I'm very honored. I know I need to work harder to get Pratt over the hump. I'm getting ready for 2017 tomorrow."
"Our All-Conference players played great all year and were the hardest workers in the gym," Sepulveda continued. "I was happy for both players and proud of their accomplishments."
Calderwood's selection to the All-HVIAC team was the fourth straight for the middle hitter.
"Hannah is well-deserving of four all-conference awards," Sepulveda commented. "She's a tremendous player, leader and teammate, and after knowing her for a short while, I was able to see why everyone loves her."
Pratt 3 Culinary Institute 1 (25-13, 25-12, 22-25, 25-8)
Charlotte Burch (Lawrence, KS/Bishop Seabury) and Goatley combined for 16 kills with only three errors on 36 attacks (.361 attack percentage) as the Cannoneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before defeating the Steels in four sets to reach the HVIAC championship final. The loss avenged Pratt's 3-1 loss to Culinary's in the 2015 HVIAC semifinals.
A stingy Pratt defense recorded 14 blocks and defended 77 digs in holding Culinary to a -.013 attack percentage for the match.
Junior Abby Nagy (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) recorded her second career double-double with 15 assists and 13 digs in the four-set victory.
College of New Rochelle 3 Pratt 0 (13-25, 9-25, 23-25)
After its victory in the semifinals, Pratt was unable to build off the earlier victory in a straight-set loss to the HVIAC regular season champions.
New Rochelle compiled 27 kills on 46 attacks (.456 attack percentage) in building a 2-0 lead after two sets. By comparison, the Cannoneers notched 10 kills on 39 attempts with 11 errors.
Facing a 14-9 deficit in the third set, and with its season on the line, the Pratt offense got on track thanks to a series of New Rochelle errors. Following a Todd kill that pulled the Cannoneers to within three at 14-11, the Blue Angels made six consecutive errors that gave Pratt a 16-14 lead.
The teams would alternate points as the Cannoneers continued to take advantage of New Rochelle errors to build a 23-19 lead, the largest lead of the match for the Cannoneers. After a Nagy service error gave possession back to New Rochelle, a Pratt attack error, back-to-back New Rochelle kills and an ace pushed the Blue Angels to championship point at 24-23.
New Rochelle would not need another opportunity to close out the match as HVIAC Rookie of the Year Imani DuBose scored the championship-winning point with her eighth kill. DuBose was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after tallying 21 kills and four blocks over the tournament.
Todd led the Cannoneers with seven kills with only one error on 17 attacks (.353 attack percentage).
2016 HVIAC All-Conference Team
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Jamie Brown
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Davis
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Jr.
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Oakvale, W.V.
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Hannah Calderwood ***
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Pratt
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Sr.
|
MH
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South Whidbey, Wash.
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Brianna Garcia
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New Rochelle
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Fr.
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L
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San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Dekka Hunley
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King's
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Jr.
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OH
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Prescott, Ariz.
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Cristal Liciaga
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New Rochelle
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Fr.
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S/RS
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San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Melanie Lopez Soto *
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New Rochelle
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Sr.
|
S
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Gurabo, Puerto Rico
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Megan Read
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Culinary
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So.
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OPP/MH
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Gainsville, Fla.
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Trisha Tran
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Culinary
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Sr.
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S
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Germantown, Md.
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Joan Wyeth
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Pratt
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Sr.
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OH
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Ivoryton, Conn.
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*** Denotes 2013, 2014 & 2015All-Conference Team Selection
* Denotes 2015 All-Conference Team selection
Players of the Year - Melanie Ann Lopez Soto (College of New Rochelle)
Rookie of the Year - Imani Debose (College of New Rochelle)
Coach of the Year - Louis Sepulveda (Pratt Institute)
