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South Easton, Mass. – University of New Haven junior outside hitter Sara Malmlov (Lindesberg, Sweden) was named the 2009 Northeast-10 Volleyball Player of the Year as voted by the conference’s head coaches.

Malmlov helped lead New Haven to its second straight Northeast-10 Regular Season title as she currently leads the conference with 3.85 kills per set as well as points with 4.43 per set. She also has a hitting percentage of .286 to go along with 35 service aces. In addition, Malmlov was named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team.

Merrimack College junior Alyssa Pickert (Tinley Park, Ill.) was selected the 2009 Northeast-10 Libero of the Year. Pickert helped lead the Warriors to a school record 21 victories this season She currently leads the Northeast-10 with 5.52 digs per set and is ranked 13th among the Division II leaders. A two-time All-Northeast-10 selection, Pickert also earned All-Northeast-10 Second Team honors.

New Haven sophomore Chelsey Alpough (Torrance, Calif.) was named the 2009 Northeast-10 Setter of the Year. Alpough helped the Chargers return to the Northeast-10 Championship after going undefeated in conference play. She currently leads the team and conference with 9.84 assists per set to go along with a hitting percentage of .227 and 35 service aces. She is also averaging 2.15 digs per set and 42 total blocks. In addition, she was also named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team.

The accolades continued for New Haven asKeidy Candelaria (Vega Baja, P.R.) was named the 2009 Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year. In her first year of collegiate action, Candelaria is averaging 3.29 kills (7th NE-10) per set, 2.61 digs per set and a hitting percentage of .237. She has recorded 53 service aces, which is 5th best in conference, and has 24 total blocks. In addition, Candelaria was named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team and All-Rookie Team.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Karen McNulty was voted the 2009 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year by her peers. McNulty guided the River Hawks to a 19-9 overall record and an 11-4 record in conference play to earn the fourth seed in this year’s NE-10 Championship. This marks the tenth time in school history that the River Hawks have advanced to the Northeast-10 Championship.

With 16 member institutions the Northeast-10 shares the distinction of being the largest Division II conference in the country along with the PSAC and WVIAC. Its 23 championship sports provide athletic opportunities for over 5,500 student-athletes, the largest such program of any Division II conference.

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2009 Volleyball All Conference Teams

First Team
Hilary Pavels, Adelphi
Alex Kearney, Bentley
Sarah Coscia, UMass Lowell
Molly Cindric, Merrimack
Chelsey Alpough, New Haven
Keidy Candelaria, New Haven
Sara Malmlov, New Haven

Second Team
Heather Mau, Adelphi
Taila de Souza, American Int'l
Cassie Kraft, Bentley
Elizabeth Cheek, Le Moyne
Alyssa Pickert, Merrimack
Jenna Tammel, So. Connecticut
Andrea Wirth, Stonehill

Third Team
Ellisha Terry, American Int'l
Kristine Mickelson, Bentley
Morgan McDermott, Le Moyne
Elsa LeGrand, UMass Lowell
Victoria Pompilus, Pace
Nora Rugova, Pace
Stephanie Dluginski, So. New Hampshire

All-Rookie Team
Breanna Popham, Adelphi
Amy Waitkus, Bentley
Morgan McDermott, Le Moyne
Shaunda Forcier, Merrimack
Keidy Candelaria, New Haven
Nora Rugova, Pace
Vanessa Sullivan, So. Connecticut