BOSTON – With the Spring 2021 America East Volleyball Championship looming, the conference announced the season's All-Conference award winners. The teams and major awards were voted on by the league’s seven head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players or coaching staffs.
Full Awards Listing
UAlbany sophomore Kamara Kelly headlined the young group of major award winners as Player of the Year. Her teammate Charlotte Macken was named Defensive Specialist of the Year while UMBC freshmen Aysia Miller and Darina Kumanova received Setter of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. UMBC was named Coaching Staff of the Year.
Player of the Year
Kamara Kelly, So., Outside Hitter, UAlbany
- Ranked fourth in the conference averaging 3.48 kills per set.
- Also ranked in the league’s top-five in points.
- Two-time Player of the Week.
- Kelly is the first Great Dane to be named Player of the Year since Laini Leindecker in 2015.
Setter of the Year
Aysia Miller, Fr. Setter, UMBC
- In her first collegiate season, Miller racked up 525 assists.
- Her 10.71 assists per set ranked second in the conference and 23rd in Division I.
- She earned Setter of the Week honors a league-high four times.
- Miller is the first Retriever since 2013 and third overall to be named Setter of the Year.
Defensive Specialist of the Year
Charlotte Macken, Jr. Libero, UAlbany
- Macken led the conference with 208 digs for an average of 4.52 per set.
- The junior helped UAlbany to a third regular season title in four years.
- She was also named to the All-Conference Second Team.
- Macken is the 11th Great Dane in the last 14 years to earn the honor.
Rookie of the Year
Darina Kumanova, Fr., Outside Hitter, UMBC
- Kumanova ranked in the league’s top-10 in kills, points and digs.
- The freshman racked up seven double-doubles in 13 matches this season.
- She was named Player of the Week on March 2.
- Kumanova was selected to the All-Conference First Team in her first collegiate season.
Coaching Staff of the year
UMBC Retrievers
- This is the first time a UMBC staff has been named Coaching Staff of the Year.
- In Cristina Robertson’s third season, the Retrievers earned a share of their first #AEVB regular season title in program history.
- The Retrievers led the league in hitting percentage and assists.
- They also ranked second in kills.
Six seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen made up the All-Conference teams.
All of the major award winners in addition to several more All-Conference honorees will be in action Friday night in the Spring 2021 America East Volleyball Championship Match. Watch live on AmericaEast.tv and visit #AEVB Championship Central for more information.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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