ECAC Release

DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2015 Division I Volleyball All-Star Team Friday, as voted on by representatives from the Division's member institutions, and three members of the LIU Brooklyn volleyball team were honored. Senior Adriana Viñas Joy was named the 2015 ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, while classmates Tamara Ignjic and Nicole Okeke both earned All-Star honors.

Viñas Joy captures her first-ever career ECAC Defensive Player of the Year honors after earning the same accolade from the Northeast Conference for the fourth-consecutive season. The native of Puerto Rico averaged 5.23 digs per set over the course of the regular season to rank second in the NEC and 15th nationally. Viñas Joy registered double-digit digs in all but two contests, including a season-high 34 digs against FDU. She also led the conference with 0.49 service aces per set, the eighth-best mark in Division I.

Viñas Joy also earned All-ECAC first team All-Star honors, and was joined by two of her teammates. Senior outside hitter Tamara Ignjic and senior middle blocker Nicole Okeke  earned second team All-ECAC honors, both for the first time in their career.

Ignjic ranked second in the NEC with 3.39 kills per set overall and 3.94 kills per set in conference play.  The senior racked up double-digit kills in 16 of LIU's 25 matches, seven of which she recorded double-doubles in kills and digs. Ignjic also ranked second on the Blackbirds with 2.16 digs per set.

Okeke, a redshirt senior, provided LIU Brooklyn with a strong presence at the net as she ranked second in the NEC with 1.06 blocks per set. In doing so, she helped anchor a defense that held conference opponents to a league-low .136 hitting percentage. She also contributed offensively with 2.14 kills per set, second on the team.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Krufka – Sacred Heart University, Jr., RS

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adriana Viñas Joy – LIU Brooklyn, Sr., Libero

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Christina Cornelius – Harvard University, Fr., Middle Blocker  

COACH OF THE YEAR
Barry Goldberg – American University

ALL-ECAC FIRST TEAM
Briana Flagg – Siena College
Sarah Krufka – Sacred Heart University
Kristen Thompson – Robert Morris University
Adriana Viñas Joy – LIU Brooklyn
Monika Smidova – American University
Laini Leindecker – University of Albany
Janey Goodman – James Madison University
Christina Cornelius – Harvard University
 
ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM
Lauren Siebert – Canisius College
Kelsey Lahey – Marist College
Nicole Okeke – LIU Brooklyn
Tamara Ignjic – LIU Brooklyn
Vanessa Edwards – Army West Point
Demi Muses – University of New Hampshire  
Melissa Morello – College of Charleston
Kendall Peterkin – Princeton University

ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri.  In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.