Tigers triumph again! Women’s Volleyball Team are the 2017 Region XV Champions
The Women’s Volleyball team has aced the semi-finals, becoming the 2017 Region XV Champions, earning the automatic qualifying bid for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championships in Rochester, Minnesota.
The team defeated the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) 3-0 in the October 28 semi-final, then outlasted Nassau Community College by a score of 3-1 for the title. Queensborough freshman Paola Beniquez was named tournament Most Valued Player, while sophomore Melissa Dominguez and freshman Maria Veliz Thol were named to the all-tournament team.
Jason Demas, Head Coach of the Women’s Volleyball team said, “This is the third year in a row we’ve won the CUNYAC title and my sixth title. We are also honored to win the regional title again this year and represent Region XV at Nationals next week. We were the #1 seed in both, so we had high expectations for both tournaments and the team rose to the occasion. We are saving our best match for nationals!”
This 12 student team is comprised of nine freshmen with Paola Beniquez winning CUNYAC athlete of the week for five out of six weeks, and winning CUNYAC Tournament Most Valued Player, along with Player of the Year honors.
Paola said, "I am stoked to be going to nationals with my team! Making it to nationals was our goal from the beginning of the season and we made it happen. I told my parents before leaving Puerto Rico that I was going to give my all this volleyball season and I feel I've made them proud and I am striving to achieve even more. Our coaches have been putting in the extra mile for us in order to prepare us for nationals and we are very determined and focused on performing our best in Minnesota. My team is my second family. We are very united, and we all play volleyball because it is our passion, not just for titles. No matter what happens in Minnesota, we will show everyone what a team is supposed to be."
Angela Acevedo won Rookie of the Year and two Rookie of the Week honors. Joelle Desrosiers won Athlete of the Month for September 2017 and made All-Tournament team. Gisselle Plasencia (1x) and Maria Veliz Thol (2x) were also named Rookie of the Week by CUNYAC during the season.
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