Byram, Nolan and four other Gulls earn Conference honors
Nov. 4, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - A total of five Endicott College women's volleyball players were named to The Commonwealth Coast Conference's annual All-Conference team(s), as announced by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye on Tuesday morning. Head coach Tim Byram was named the Conference Coach of the Year, and senior Brittany Nolan (Monroe, Conn.) was recognized as the TCCC Libero of the Year.
Eight different institutions from The Commonwealth Coast Conference were represented on the 2008 All-TCCC Volleyball Team. In addition to the all-conference team, five major individual award winners and a team sportsmanship award winner was also selected. Colby-Sawyer College sophomore Michelle Doody was named TCCC Player of the Year, Colby-Sawyer freshman Nicole Duarte was named TCCC Rookie of the Year, Endicott College senior Brittany Nolan was named TCCC Libero of the Year, Colby-Sawyer senior Taylor Forsberg was named TCCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, Endicott College coach Tim Byram was named TCCC Coach of the Year, and Anna Maria College was the recipient of the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Voting for the All-TCCC team and each of the major awards was conducted among TCCC volleyball coaches.
Joining Doody and Nolan on the first team were Rachel Cervone (Western New England), Hayley Janelle (Endicott), Genny Moore (Colby-Sawyer), Alexandra Toregas (University of New England) and Steph Wiese (Endicott).
Second team selections included Forsberg, Katharina Boes (Western New England), Blakely Burns (Gordon), Ellen Choinski (University of New England), Rebekah Dion (Roger Williams), Brittany Phillips (Endicott) and Claire Varner (University of New England).
Earning honorable mention were Duarte, Elyse Barbour (Endicott), Kirsten Bosworth (Roger Williams), Julie Bruton (Wentworth), Kristina Dolan (Roger Williams), Kristen Klein (Gordon), Kaylie McCallister (Gordon), Ashley Paolini (Regis), Meredith Phipps (Gordon) and Kristen Romanko (Colby-Sawyer).
Doody, a product of Franklin, Mass, has captured TCCC Player of the Year honors one year removed from being named the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2007. In conference-only play, the sophomore is one of just two TCCC players to rank among the top-five in hitting percentage and kills per game. Her 3.20 kills per set average ranks third, while her .311 hitting percentage ranks fifth. Her play helped the Chargers earn the \#2 seed in the upcoming TCCC Championship tournament after posting an 8-2 conference record and a 21-11 overall mark.
Duarte, a native of Windham, N.H., has been a most pleasant addition to an already-potent Colby-Sawyer lineup. She currently ranks third on her team with 2.12 digs per set against TCCC competition, while also ranking second behind Doody with 72 kills.
Nolan, a resident of Monroe, Conn., has been a key member of an Endicott team that went undefeated in regular-season conference play in 2008, while losing just one set to a TCCC opponent this year. Nolan, a nine-time winner of TCCC Libero of the Week honors this season, carries an impressive 3.83 digs per set average in conference play and an even more impressive 4.50 digs per set in all matches played. The Nolan-led Gulls defense has held opposing hitters to a miniscule .136 attack percentage in 2008, including an .035 mark in TCCC play.
Forsberg, a native of Moultonborough, N.H., has been a perennial standout both on and off the court during her four years at Colby-Sawyer. In addition to sporting a very solid 3.45 digs per set in her final campaign, the nursing major carries an impressive 3.63 grade point average and will earn her degree this spring.
In his ninth season at Endicott, Byram piloted the Gulls to a perfect 10-0 regular-season record in TCCC play and a 21-14 overall record against some of the strongest competition throughout both regionally and nationally. Endicott is seeking the program's fourth TCCC championship in five years.
To view the entire TCCC All-Conference release, please click here.