BENNINGTON, Vt. – Based on voting by conference coaches, a Southern Vermont College women’s volleyball member has been named the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, this time being junior Jessica Delgado (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Delgado was also named to the All-NECC First Team while senior Carrie Baltazar (Whittier, Calif.) was selected to the Second Team for the second year in a row. Sophomore Sheilani Kaleopa (Riverside, Calif.) and junior Marissa Flores (Azusa, Calif.) each received Honorable Mention nods.

Delgado led the Mountaineers in hitting percentage while also helping out tremendously on the defensive and service ends of play. In eight conference matches, she averaged 3.72 kills per set with a .248 hitting percentage.  The junior ranked second in the NECC with 25 service aces and ninth in digs, averaging 3.66 per set. Baltazar was a tremendous all-around player for Southern Vermont, recording 2.07 kills and 2.34 digs per set while also chipping in with 1.21 assists per game.

Kaleopa was instrumental in the Mountaineers’ success and winning of their third-straight NECC title, starting the offense with 6.51 assist per set to go along with 1.5 digs and 0.5 service aces per set. Flores also had a big impact on both sides of the ball, putting down 2.44 kills per set and popping up 2.61 digs per set.

2013 NECC Women's Volleyball All-Conference Team     (NECC RELEASE)

Player of the Year
Jessica Delgado, Southern Vt. (Jr, OH - Los Angeles, Calif.)

Defensive Player of the Year
Meghan McDermott, Newbury (Jr, DS - Hampton, N.H.)

Rookie of the Year
Courtney Banks, Newbury (Fr, MH - Corona, Calif.)

Coach of the Year
Clint Whelan, Newbury

Team Sportsmanship Award
Elms College

First Team All-Conference
Courtney Banks, Newbury (Fr, MH - Corona, Calif.)
Samantha Betts, Daniel Webster (Fr, OH - Rancho Cucamonga, Cal.)
Jessica Delgado, Southern Vt. (Jr, OH - Los Angeles, Calif.)
Kristina del Rey, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, OH - Miami, Fla.)
McKenzie Kish, Newbury (Fr, S - Eagle River, Alaska)
Vanessa Noesi, Regis (Mass.) (Sr, MB - Puerta Plata, D.R.)

Second Team All-Conference
Carrie Baltazar, Southern Vt. (Sr, S - Whittier, Calif.)
Kacie Bayreuther, Bay Path (Jr, L - East Lyme, Conn.)
Amanda Garcia, Mitchell (So, MH - New Britain, Conn.)
Sara Gold, Regis (Mass.) (Sr, DS - North Hollywood, Calif.)
Madeline Roulier, Daniel Webster (Fr, OH - Pittsfield, Mass.)
Katrina Stroganoff, Lesley (Sr, OH - Cedar Grove, N.J.)

Honorable Mention
Gloria Charles, Mitchell (Sr, OH - New Haven, Conn.)
Madison Clemmons, Newbury (Fr, S - Riverside, Calif.)
Marissa Flores, Southern Vt (Jr, DS - Azusa, Calif.)
Sheilani Kaleopa, Southern Vt. (So, S - Riverside, Calif.)
JC Pickett, Elms (Jr, OH - Chicopee, Mass.)