Following a vote by the conference's nine head coaches, the Liberty League has revealed the 2024 Volleyball major awards and All-League teams.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Wesley Slavin, Sophomore, Setter, Ithaca College
For the third consecutive season, an Ithaca volleyball player has been named the Liberty League Player of the Year. Sophomore Wesley Slavin was recognized with the honor for the 2024 campaign. Slavin played in 26 matches for the Bombers this season and paced the team in assists as well as assists per set with 822 and 9.79 per set, respectively. Among league leaders, she was second in assists per set and fourth in total assists. Nationally, she is ranked among the top 30 in assists per set (26th). Slavin has tallied 20 or more assists in 24 matches and boasted a season-high 58 assists in a match against Trinity (Texas) in early October. The two-time Liberty League Performer of the Week honoree also registered a .228 hitting percentage and averaged 1.92 digs per set.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Delainy Williams, Setter, William Smith College
William Smith College first-year setter Delainy Williams was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Williams had a breakout season for the Herons, starting 28 matches and playing in all 105 sets. She closed out the regular season and league tournament with a league-best 1,096 and 10.44 assists per set. Williams is ranked 11th in Division III in assists per set and tallied 30 or more assists in 26-of-28 matches. She became the first Heron in program history to surpass the 1,000-career assist mark as a rookie. Williams also recorded 189 digs (1.80 per set), 49 service aces (0.47 per set), and 47 kills (0.45 per set). She was recognized as Liberty League Rookie of the Week six times this year and led the Herons to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Ithaca College – Tara Stilwell, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Camryn Bancroft and Graduate Assistant Coach Raytchelle Dos Santos Miranda
Ithaca College head coach Tara Stilwell and her assistants Camryn Bancroft and Raytchelle Dos Santos Miranda earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors. In Stilwell’s first year at the helm, the staff directed the Bombers to a 22-6 overall record and an unblemished 8-0 mark against conference opponents. Ithaca captured its third consecutive Liberty League title posting a pair of sweeps in the semifinals (3-0 vs RIT) and championship match (3-0 vs William Smith). The Bombers topped the Liberty League in hitting percentage (.265), service aces (84, 3.11 per set), kills per set (13.33), assists per set (12.15), blocks per set (1.89), and points per set (17.78). They are ranked among Division III’s top 50 in hitting percentage (28th), kills per set (38th), and assists per set (50th). The Bombers return to the NCAA Championship for the ninth straight season, and they will open the 2024 tournament against Lasell in Baltimore, Md. on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, Thursday, November 21.