Caldwell's Katrina Janssen Named 2017 CACC VB Player of the Year; All-CACC Honorees Announced
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 14, 2017) -- Caldwell University standout Katrina Janssen on Tuesday was named the 2017 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Volleyball Player of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. In addition to being named player of the year, Janssen also garnered a spot on the All-CACC First Team, as the league announced all major award winners and all-conference honorees on the day the 2017 CACC Volleyball Quarterfinals are to begin. Nominating and voting for the all-conference and major awards was conducted by the league's 14 head coaches in the sport of volleyball.
In addition to Janssen, Goldey-Beacom College's Breanne Haley was named the CACC Rookie of the Year, while Janssen's teammate Jessica Mitchell was named the CACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season. The other major individual award announced on Tuesday was Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) head coach Tim Moyer being named the CACC Coach of the Year.
Janssen had a sensational regular season for the Cougars in helping to guide them to the North Division regular season championship. She ranked among the top 10 in several categories this season, including fifth in kills (403), fourth in kills/set (3.95), sixth in total attacks (1,006), seventh in hitting percentage (.274), fifth in points (484.5), fourth in points/set (4.8), eighth in block assists (69) and ninth in total blocks (81). Janssen posted double-figure kills in 24 matches, including the final 14 of the regular season. She topped 18 kills in six matches and posted five double-doubles in kills and digs.
Haley had a strong collegiate debut for the Lightning in 2017, as she picked up the league's top-rookie award. Haley led the league with 461 kills, while helping to guide Goldey-Beacom to a spot in this week's CACC Championship tournament. She also led the league in total points (519.0) and total attacks (1,348). Haley topped 20 kills in seven matches, including a season-high 25 to go along with 15 digs in a win over Felician University back on Sept. 23. Overall, she had 20 double-doubles during the regular season in kills and digs. Haley was also named to the All-CACC Second Team as an outside hitter.
Mitchell was tabbed as the CACC's top defensive player for the second-straight time, as the libero/defensive specialist was part of a strong back line that enabled the Cougars to capture the North Division crown. She ranked second in the league in digs (527) and digs/set (5.17). Mitchell topped 20 digs in 13 matches, including notching a season-high 32 in a win over Bentley on Sept. 2. Mitchell also locked up a spot on the All-CACC First Team as a libero.
Moyer was honored as the conference's top coach, as he led Jefferson to an 18-1 CACC record, which enabled the Rams to capture the South Division championship and the No. 1 overall seed in this week's tournament. Jefferson dropped just 10 sets in 19 league matches during the regular season. The Rams enter this year's tournament as the defending conference champs in the CACC. Overall, Jefferson produced a 24-6 overall record.
The other major award handed out on Tuesday was the 2017 CACC Team Sportsmanship Award, which was given to Nyack College for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and character throughout the season. The Warriors qualified for the CACC Tournament this year with a 12-7 league mark.
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Katrina Janssen (Caldwell University)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Breanne Haley (Goldey-Beacom College)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jessica Mitchell (Caldwell University)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Tim Moyer (Jefferson)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Nyack College
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
L Jessica Mitchell (Caldwell University)
S Brianna Root (Post University)
MB Amy Bruno (Georgian Court University)
MB Corinne Justus (Jefferson)
OH Katrina Janssen (Caldwell University)
OH Chase Wassel (Holy Family University)
OH Courtney Wensel (Jefferson)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
L Peyton Reno (Chestnut Hill College)
S Alexandra Harrington (Jefferson)
MB Kathleen Compagno (Caldwell University)
MB Gianna Pesognelli (Holy Family University)
MB Kyra Zuhlke (Nyack College)
OH Breanne Haley (Goldey-Beacom College)
OH Madison Hunziker (Post University)
2017 CACC VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
L Jillian Boyle (Holy Family University)
S Natalie Stewart (Holy Family University)
S Kennedy Sutton (Chestnut Hill College)
MB Jax Babezki (Goldey-Beacom College)
MB Ashley Levatino (Post University)
OH Taryn Auyong (Caldwell University)
OH Peggy Rosario (Georgian Court University)
The 2017 CACC Volleyball Championship gets underway on Tuesday with the quarterfinals at the sites of the highest seeds. Tuesday's four winners will advance to the CACC Championship semifinals on Saturday at Wilmington University in New Castle, Del. Semifinal start times will be 1 and 3:30 p.m., as the highest remaining seed in the tournament will play in the day's first match. The two semifinal winners will square off in the CACC Championship Final on Sunday at Wilmington at 12 p.m. Please CLICK HERE to view the official bracket for the 2017 CACC Volleyball Championship.
ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University), Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.