Syracuse, NY – Many Section III girls volleyball players thrived in new or expanded roles this winter.
We polled the CNY coaches to find out which players stood out as newcomers to the college game or who smoothly handled the increased responsibilities.
Here are the responses we received:
Grace Bertone-NicotraChristian Brothers Academy, sophomore, middle blocker
“Despite being the youngest player on my team and a first-year varsity player, Grace plays with the intensity and poise of a senior. She is an outstanding athlete and an even better teammate who shows up every day with a positive attitude and drive to improve.” – Kristen DeLorenzo
Phoenecia HathwaySandy Creek, outside hitter, senior
“Her overall overview, team leadership, execution skills under pressure and ability to encourage her team to excel regardless of the circumstances are important qualities for an MVP to have.” – Dori Hathway
Alachiir KuanyEast Syracuse Minoa, middle shooter, sophomore
“Alachiir is becoming a dominant player in our league. She’s proving that she’s going to be a problem for other schools for years to come. She’s probably the toughest player in the league to stop when she gets going.” -Jake Cline
Makayla RodgersCentral Valley Academy, senior, defensive specialist/libero
“He brings great effort to consistently play the position and is one of our key pass rushers and defenders for our team this year.” — Kevin Wheelock
Alachiir KaunyEast Syracuse Minoa, sophomore, middle blocker
“As a tenth grader, Alachiir has already shown that she is one of the best centers in the league. Teams are already game planning around her and she is very hard to stop. We are very fortunate to have Alachiir on our team and we all can’t wait to see her development throughout the rest of the season and her college career.” -Jake Cline
Melina PoturovičováUtica Academy of Science, middle blocker, freshman
“Melina is doing an incredible job this season. She is one of our three captains and leads our team in both blocks and kills. The team is constantly inspired by her unmatched energy and we are so lucky to have her.” — Ku Ku
Alyssa TyldesleyHolland Patent, sophomore, middle blocker
“She’s a sophomore and fills the middle role. She’s stepped up to that position and is doing an amazing job while being extremely supportive off the court.” — Lisa Aiello
India Clary-SohriakoffManlius Pebble Hill, Sr., outside hitter
“She gives 100% every day, always strives to be better in everything she does, a true leader. She is a three-year starter on varsity, first two years as a libero, we needed an outside hitter and asked her to come over. She has accepted the challenge, leads the team in kills and is second in digs. She is always looking for her teammates, the younger players, to offer support and encouragement.” – Jim Tuck
Abby LeamerMorrisville-Eaton, sophomore, shortstop
“Abby has stepped into a leadership role on the floor as an outside player and passer first. Abby is a very consistent performer with a calm demeanor. The Morrisville-Eaton Mavericks graduated 5 seniors last year and so Abby had to step up to fill the gaps as a sophomore. She is one of the hardest working and most efficient athletes in the gym. A forward, if you look at Abby you will see she has a high volleyball IQ. —Will Curtis
Savannah WilcoxMount Markham, junior, setter
“Savannah took over. Addie Joneswho had 1,000 career assists. She has worked very hard to transition from a role as a sophomore to leading the offense as our junior setter. She had 113 assists through the first 4 games of the season. – Terry McKane
Sydney CatelloOneida, sophomore
“Sydney Catello is selected as an immediate impact player as she leads our team in both kills and aces while setting the tone as a vocal and reliable leader on the court. Her strong leadership combined with her impact on offense and defense make her an invaluable asset to the team.” -Gracie Morris
Ellie McNallyPort Byron, sophomore, middle blocker
“As a freshman on varsity as a tenth grader, Ellie McNally has made a big impact. She’s taken on a big role in the middle. Since losing both of our middles last year, she’s been willing to learn and put in the work and is getting better and better every practice. I can’t wait to see what the next two years bring with her.” – Keirstan Bozeat
Arynn DayRemsen, freshman, setter
“Arynn is a freshman who made the varsity team this year. She is a starting player and has been a positive influence on our team since the first game. She averages 10-20 assists per game and has the most assists on the team. She is also a consistent defensive player. She also has a lot of aces this year, which is extremely impressive as a freshman.” – Amy Piaschyk
Jenna PreskiRome Free Academy, senior, outside hitter
“This impact player is a former varsity player who came up big this season. As a coach, it’s not just the stats she produces on the volleyball court, it’s the ‘IMPACT’ she has on and off the court to keep the team together. Jenna Preski has embraced the role of captain/leader where she emphasizes the team, managing the coaches’ teamwork and coaching. the importance of mutual support in all aspects of volleyball (both good and bad) Jenna Preski leads by example and has demonstrated her dedication and commitment to the team She always promotes positive and encouraging energy and brings out the best in her teammates.—Pete Keoviengsamay
Makenna MontiethSandy Creek, Junior
“Makenna Montieth has had a positive impact on this year’s winter volleyball team. Her work ethic on and off the court, in and out of season, has helped her stand out as another part of the overall plan to be a competitive and successful team again this season. Being intentional about raising her level of play and not settling for anything less than her best is a huge attribute of our team’s overall success this year.” — Dorian Hathaway
Madison McCallSouth Lewis, sophomore, shortstop
“Madison is in her second season on varsity as a sophomore. She was a setter last season, but injuries on the team required her to move to outside hitter this season. She has proven to be an asset in that role, averaging five kills and six digs per game.” — Molly McCall
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