MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its 2017 All-Conference selections in the sport of volleyball Wednesday, naming four from Morrisville State to its first, second and third team's as voted by conference coaches across the league.
Megyan Merrill (Millport, N.Y.) got a first team All-Conference nod, while teammates Samantha Wolf (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Helena Hanes (St. Mary's, Pa.) received second team honors.
Freshman Kirsten Florio (Wellsboro, Pa.) was honored with a third team selection.
Merrill led Morrisville State's attack game this season from her outside hitter position. The sophomore appeared and started in all 27 matches for the Mustangs, collecting 296 kills, while adding 21 assists, 35 service aces, 228 digs and 14 blocks to her tallies on the year.
Merrill averaged 3.52 kills per set for a .240 hitting percentage across 84 sets, also averaging 2.71 digs per set.
She currently ranks 3rd overall in the NEAC in kills (296), 6th in hitting percentage (.240), 3rd in points (338.5), 2nd in kills per set (3.52) and 2nd in points per set (4.0). Her efforts on the court this season led to a two time selection as the NEAC Athlete of the Week, September 26 and October 23.
Merrill recorded double digit kills in 13 matches on the year, recording a game high 27 against Oswego, and a NEAC high 23 against Wells. She was a 2016 All-Conference Second Team selection as a freshman.
Wolf was the anchor to the Mustangs defensive play, as she led the squad with 464 digs as libero.
The sophomore appeared in 25 matches across the season, averaging 5.52 digs per set; in all but two she was in double digits in digs recorded, including a single match high 42 against Wells College.
Wolf also contributed 24 kills and 25 service aces to the Mustangs efforts, adding 79 assists. She currently ranks 4th overall in the NEAC in digs (464), 2nd in digs per set (5.52) and was twice selected as the NEAC Defensive Player of the Week (September 12 and September 26).
She was an All-Conference Second Team selection in 2016, and was also the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year.
Hanes appeared and started in 26 matches for the Mustangs as a setter and right side hitter. The all-around player collected 199 kills, added 344 assists, served up 26 aces, added 122 digs, and posted 50 total blocks at the net in 85 sets.
Five times on the season Hanes recorded a double-double performance: against Misericordia (11 kills, 13 assists), a second time against Hamilton (11 kills and 22 assists), while recording a triple double against Wells College (15 kills, 15 assists, 13 digs), and a double-double against SUNY Poly (13 kills, 13 assists).
She added another with 15 kills and 20 assists against Moravian. Hanes currently ranks 7th overall in the NEAC in kills per set (2.34), 7th in hitting percentage (.240), 10th in assists (344), 10th in assists per set (4.05), 7th in assisted blocks (47) and 11th in total blocks (50). She also ranks 11th in points (251.5).
She was a first team All-Conference selection in 2016.
Florio had a stellar freshman season for the Mustangs from her middle hitter/outside hitter position appearing in 91 sets and all 27 matches. A versatile player, she collected 149 kills in the attack game, hitting .306, while adding 15 assists and nine service aces.
The biggest contribution came in the defensive play at the net for the freshman, where she posted 23 solo and 67 assisted blocks for 90 total on the season, ranking her second all-time in the Mustang record books.
Florio also contributed 214.5 points to the Mustangs success on the year. She currently ranks 2nd overall in the NEAC in hitting percentage (.306), 4th in solo blocks (23), 1st in assisted blocks.
Morrisville State (22-6, 8-1 NEAC) advanced to the NEAC semifinals with a 3-0 match win over Keuka College Tuesday evening in the quarterfinal round. They take on second seed Wells College at noon Saturday, on the campus of Penn St. Berks.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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