PL Announces Volleyball 25th Anniversary Team

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CENTER VALLEY, Pa.– The Patriot League Volleyball 25^th Anniversary Team was announced on Wednesday, which featured five Army West Point athletes including Deanna Machlan (USMA '93), Caitlin Machon (USMA '05), Abby Casciato (USMA '06), Maureen Bannon (USMA '10) and Ariana Mankus (USMA '13).

The team members are listed below by school, with seasons listed for the athlete's years of competition in the Patriot League. Each school that participates in volleyball selected 25 players in the voting for the 25^th Anniversary Team, and could not vote for its own student-athletes.

American: Karla Kucerkova (2001-03); Rubena Sukaj (2005-08); Monika Smidova (2011-present); Cutrina Biddulph (2002-05); Christina Nash (2005-08)
Army West Point: Ariana Mankus (2009-12); Maureen Bannon (2006-09); Caitlin Machon (2000-04); Deanna Machlan (1992-95); Abby Casciato (2002-05)
Bucknell: Melissa Wharton (1994-97); Katie Steele (1992-95)
Colgate: Vicky Chun (1990-91); Julia Civardi (1993-96); Becca Galves (1990-93); Autumn McKenzie (1993-96); Judy Culhane (1996-99); Katrina Zawojski (2005-08); Jackie Adlam (2005-08)
Holy Cross: Megan Lynch (2009-12)
Lehigh: Kim Freedman (1995-98); Rochelle Healea (1999-02)
Navy: Katherine Schullian (1991-94); Rachel Shropa (1996-99); Jen Williams (1996-99)

The group has combined to win 32 individual League awards for Player, Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Setter of the Year. The honorees have also combined to make seven All-America squads and earn 80 All-Patriot League honors, while eight 25^th Anniversary Team members also appeared on the Patriot League All-Decade Team which was selected for competition from 1990-2000. The honorees also led their teams to success as 19 of the 25 Patriot League champions featured at least one 25^th Anniversary Team member on the squad.

The Patriot League is releasing 25^th Anniversary Teams throughout the month of August for each sport that has been sponsored by the League since it became an all-sport conference beginning in the 1990-91 season. In addition to the 25^th Anniversary Teams, coverage throughout the 2015-16 season will focus or former student-athletes and top stories in the history of the Patriot League.

More information on the Patriot League Volleyball 25^th Anniversary Team members is included below, with the honorees listed alphabetically. All seasons listed designate the player's years of competition within the Patriot League.

Patriot League Volleyball 25^th Anniversary Team

Jackie Adlam, Colgate (2005-08) – A four time All-Patriot League selection and twice named the League's Defensive Player of the Year, Adlam is the Patriot League career leader in digs with 1,989. She was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team as a junior and senior as Colgate reached the final each season.

Maureen Bannon, Army West Point (2006-09) – Bannon was the 2006 Rookie of the Year, a four-time All-Patriot League selection and was named the League's Setter of the Year on three occasions. As a senior, she led the Black Knights to the Patriot League title and was named the Tournament MVP. Bannon finished her career with more than 4,100 assists and is third all-time in the Patriot League record book.

Cutrina Biddulph, American (2002-05) – Biddulph helped the Eagles capture Patriot League titles and reach the NCAA tournament in each of her four seasons. She was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2002 and the Patriot League Player of the Year and an honorable mention AVCA All-American in 2004. A four-time All-Patriot League selection, Biddulph finished her career with 1,434 career kills.

Abby Casciato, Army West Point (2002-05) – One of four players in Patriot League history to record more than 4,000 assists (4,019), Casciato is also in the Patriot League top 10 with 216 serving aces. She helped the Black Knights reach the Patriot League title game as a junior and senior. Casciato was named to the All-Patriot League team three times and capped her career by being named the League's Player of the Year in 2005.

Vicky Chun, Colgate (1990-91) – Chun has completed the unique double of being named Patriot League Player of the Year (1991) and Coach of the Year (1996). She was named to the All-Patriot League team in the League's first two years of existence and is a member of the All-Decade team. Chun helped the Raiders win the inaugural Patriot League Volleyball title in 1990 and ranks fifth in school history for career assists with 2,440.

Julia Civardi, Colgate (1993-96) – Civardi was a member of the Raiders back-to-back Patriot League champion teams as a junior and senior and was named the League's Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 1996. A three-time All-Patriot League selection and member of the All-Decade team, Civardi ranks in the top-five in program history in career kills (1,174) and digs (1,307).

Judy Culhane, Colgate (1996-99) – Culhane capped off a brilliant career by being named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete and Tournament MVP as a senior. She was named to the first-team All-Patriot League squad in each of her final three seasons and was a key contributor on the Raiders championship teams in 1996 and 1999. Culhane ranks third in school history in career kills with 1,308.

Kim Freedman, Lehigh (1995-98) – Freedman set a Patriot League Tournament record with 32 kills in 1997 and was named Tournament MVP following Lehigh's win over Bucknell in the championship game. A two-time selection to the first-team All-Patriot League squad, Freedman was also the League's Offensive Player of the Year in 1998 and the Scholar-Athlete in both 1997 and 1998.

Becca Galves, Colgate (1990-93) – Galves helped the Raiders reach the Patriot League title game in three of her four seasons, including winning a championship in 1990. Individually, she was recognized as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 1990, the Player of the Year in 1992 and is a member of the All-Decade Team. A three-time first-team All-Patriot League selection, Galves ranks in the top 10 in program history in kills (1,061) and digs (1,216).

Rochelle Healea, Lehigh (1999-2002) – The only player in program history to be named to the All-Patriot League team four times, Healea led the Mountain Hawks into the Patriot League Tournament all four seasons. Healea was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 1999 and led the League in aces in the 2000 season. She still holds the program mark for career kills with 1,453 and ranks in the top five in digs and aces.

Karla Kucerkova, American (2001-03) – One of the most decorated volleyball players in League history, Kucerkova was a three-time Patriot League Player of the Year and received AVCA All-America honorable mention honors twice. She ranks in the top 10 in the Patriot League in career hitting percentage (.322) and kills (1,537), in just three seasons of play. Kucerkova also was the Patriot League Volleyball Scholar-Athlete and overall Female Scholar-Athlete as a junior and senior.

Megan Lynch, Holy Cross (2009-2012) – The only player in program history to be named to the All-Patriot League team more than twice, Lynch is also the only Crusader to ever post over 1,000 career kills (1,486) and 1,000 career digs (1,108). Her kills total ranks eighth all-time in Patriot League history.

Deann Machlan, Army West Point (1992-95) – Machlan is second all-time in career kills among Patriot League players with 1,718 and also ranks in the top 10 with 1,466 career digs. She helped the Black Knights reach the Patriot League Tournament in each of her first three seasons, winning titles in 1992 and 1994. A member of the All-Decade team, Machlan was named to the first-team All-Patriot League squad twice and was the Patriot League Player of the Year in 1995.

Caitlin Machon, Army West Point (2000-04) – Machon, who remains in the top 10 in program history in kills (1,259) and blocks (249), helped the Black Knights qualify for the Patriot League Tournament in each of her four seasons. She was a three-time member of the first-team All-Patriot League squad and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year following the 2004 campaign.

Ariana Mankus, Army West Point (2009-12) – Mankus was named the CVU.com National Freshman of the Year in 2009 and is the only player in League history to be named Patriot League Rookie and Player of the Year in the same season. She was named to the first-team All-Patriot League list three times and capped off her career as the Patriot League Player of the Year and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2012.

Autumn McKenzie, Colgate (1993-96) – A three-time first-team All-Patriot League selection, McKenzie currently ranks fifth all-time in League history with a .338 hitting percentage, third in blocks with 515 and ninth with 1,461 career kills. A member of the Raiders 1995 and 1996 League champion teams, McKenzie was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior after being recognized as the Rookie of the Year in 1993.

Christina Nash, American (2005-08) – Nash helped the Eagles capture Patriot League titles and reach the NCAA postseason in each of her four seasons. A three-time All-Patriot League selection, Nash was named the Patriot League Setter of the Year as a sophomore and senior and the Tournament MVP as a junior. She currently ranks third in program history with 3,949 assists, which is fifth in the Patriot League record book.

Katherine Schullian, Navy (1991-94) – A member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team, Schullian was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Player of the Year in 1994. Schullian is a four-time All-Patriot League selection and ranks in the top 10 in Patriot League history in three categories – third in career hitting percentage (.345), tenth in aces (189) and ninth in blocks (429).

Rachel Shropa, Navy (1996-99) – Shropa was a three-time first-team All-Patriot League selection and was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 1997 after earning the Rookie of the Year honor the previous season. Shropa is fifth all-time in Patriot League history with 1,577 kills and received the most Offensive Player of the Week Awards (seven) in League history. She is one of three Mids on the Patriot League All-Decade Team.

Monika Smidova, American (2011-present) – With one year of eligibility remaining, Smidova is fourth all-time in program history with 2,927 career assists. She was named Patriot League Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, Scholar-Athlete and Tournament MVP in 2014. The Scholar-Athlete and Setter of the Year designations were the second of her career. Smidova has also been named to the All-Patriot League team three times and the All-Tournament team twice.

Katie Steele, Bucknell (1992-95) – The only Bucknell player named to the All-Decade team, Steele still ranks in the top 10 in Patriot League history in hitting percentage (7^th, .322), aces (9^th, 192) and blocks (4^th, 497). A four-time first team All-Patriot League selection, Steele led the Bison to the Patriot League Championship game as a senior. Steele was also named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete in 1995.

Rubena Sukaj, American (2005-08) – Sukaj is one of only two student-athletes to be named Patriot League Player of the Year on three occasions and helped lead the Eagles to four straight Patriot League titles. She also received AVCA All-America honors and was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team three times. Sukaj holds the League records for career kills (2,097) and service aces (294) and was chosen as Patriot League Player of the Week a record 12 times.

Melissa Wharton, Bucknell (1994-97) – Wharton helped the Bison reach the Patriot League Tournament title game twice and is the League record holder in career hitting percentage at .400. She posted three of the top four single-season hitting percentages, including a record .445 in 1995. Wharton also holds the career League mark with 631 blocks and was named to the first-team All-Patriot League squad three times.

Jen Williams, Navy (1996-99) – A three-time All-Patriot League selection, Williams received Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1998 and Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Williams ranks in the top 10 in program history in several categories including kills (5^th, 1,373), aces (7^th, 110), digs (4^th, 1,013) and blocks (2^nd, 358). She is a member of the Patriot League All-Decade team.

Katrina Zawojski, Colgate (2005-08) – Zawojski is a four-time All-Patriot League selection who helped the Raiders reach the Patriot League championship game in her final two seasons. She is Colgate's all-time kills leader with 1,668 which sits third in the Patriot League record book. Zawojski was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team as a senior.

Army West Point Athletics

PL Announces Volleyball 25th Anniversary Team

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