Westfield, Mass. —  Natalie Gillis of Worcester State and Jess Haradon of Westfield State are the conference’s first-ever MASCAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honorees. The duo headlines the All-Conference team which is selected by the eight coaches from around the conference. 

 

Gillis, a senior outside hitter from Ashland, Mass., helped the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 conference record and the MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the league tournament for MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades. She finished the year in the top six of the MASCAC in several categories, including kills per set (3.02), total kills (260), hitting percentage (.188), digs (306),  digs per set (3.56), while adding 25 aces, 21 blocks and 16 assists. In the 3-1 win over Anna Maria College, she had 25 kills and 21 digs in the victory. 

 

Defensive specialist/libero Haradon is the first MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year honoree. The senior from Mansfield, Mass. led the Owls to a 6-1 MASCAC record and the second seed in the tournament. Haradon had the second-most digs in the conference with 448 and digs per set at 4.57. She also registered 40 assists and 32 aces during the season. In two conference wins, Haradon finished with season-highs of 29 digs while the 2021 year saw her have a career-high in total digs with 448.

 

Claiming the 2021 MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors is Chloie Garber of MCLA. The freshman from Eagle River, Alaska in her first season with the Trailblazers registered 339 kills and 3.57 per set which is the best in the league. She also collected 255 digs, 31 total blocks, 34 aces and 16 assists. In the match against Skidmore, Garber tallied a career-high 21 kills, 11 digs with a block assist.

 

Bernie Chase of Worcester State was voted by his peers as the 2021 Champion’s Choice Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 mark in league action and the top seed in the tournament. 

 

Joining Gillis and Haradon on the All-Conference First Team are Hailey Sanders and Brandee Thomas of Framingham State, Reagan Scattergood of MCLA, Ashley Crowley and Shawna Crowley of Westfield State and Angela Colonis of Worcester State.

 

Earning a spot on the MASCAC Second Team All-Conference with Garber are Sydney Rice of Bridgewater State, Morgan Failla and Valerie Sullivan of Framingham State, Natasha Stewart of MCLA, Bridgette McAndrews of Westfield State and Leele Tyler of Worcester State.