BOSTON – Six standout student-athletes from five different America East schools, who have displayed excellence both academically and athletically throughout their collegiate careers, have been named 2023-24 America East Fall Scholar-Athletes. The honorees were announced by the conference office on Tuesday Afternoon.
2023-24 America East Fall Scholar-Athletes
Men’s Cross Country: Ryan Slaney, Jr. – Bryant
- The junior has a 4.0 GPA as a finance major.
- Finished second at the 2023 #AEXC Championship in 24:27.2.
- Took 50th at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.
- Won the Elite 18 award at the 2023 #AEXC Championship.
Women’s Cross Country: Mary-Kate Finn, So. – UMass Lowell
- Sophomore owns a 3.83 GPA as a political science major.
- Claimed the individual title at the 2023 #AEXC Championship in 17:17.2.
- Won the UMass Dartmouth Invitational 5K in 17:45.0.
- Took 29th in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.
Field Hockey: Alissia de Vries, Gr. – UMass Lowell
- Senior has a 3.96 GPA as a biomedical engineering major.
- 2023 NFHCA Third-Team All-American, the first NFHCA All-American for UMass Lowell since they reclassified to Division I.
- Named 2023 #AEFH Defensive Player of the Year and led the River Hawks to a share of their first-ever #AEFH Regular Season Championship.
- Had five goals and two assists while anchoring a defense that gave up just 1.3 goals per game.
Men’s Soccer: Yannick Bright, Sr. – New Hampshire
- Senior business administration major with a 3.56 GPA.
- 2023 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and first three-time All-American in #AEMSOC history.
- Three-time #AEMSOC Midfielder of the Year and led UNH to four NCAA Tournament appearances and two #AEMSOC Championships.
- 2022-23 Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- Drafted No. 15 overall by Inter Miami CF of the MLS in December.
Women’s Soccer: Abby Kraemer, Maine
- Junior has a 3.86 GPA as a Biochemistry major.
- 2023 United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-American.
- 2023 #AEWSOC Striker of the Year.
- Led the conference in points (30) and goals (13), and ranked among the top-20 nationally while leading Maine to its first-ever #AEWSOC Title.
Volleyball: Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton
- Senior owns a 3.98 GPA as a business administration major.
- 2023 AVCA All-America Honorable mention for the second straight season.
- Named 2023 and 2022 #AEVB Player of the Year.
- Recorded double-digit kills in 23 of 26 matches while leading the conference in kills (443) and points (507) and leading UMBC to 4th straight #AEVB Title.
The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the six championship sports which America East sponsored in the fall season including men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. Nominees were put forward by their institution, which could nominate up to one student-athlete per sport, then voted upon by the conference's Student-Athlete Engagement committee. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a projected starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50.
Sport Scholar-Athletes are automatically eligible for the America East Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced in July.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country, which honors over two-thirds of its student-athletes for their success in the classroom.
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.
– Building the Complete Student-Athlete