WINTHROP, Mass. – Following the program's best season with a 22-8 record and a perfect conference mark of 15-0, Simmons volleyball captured four the six major Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) major awards announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons became Simmons' second player in program history to be selected the GNAC Player of the Year. Ranked ninth in the nation in triple doubles with four on the season, Simmons was also named to the All-GNAC first team. Over the course of the season, the graduate student from Newton, Massachusetts paced the Sharks offensively averaging 5.09 assists per set, while also tallying 204 kills and registering 13 double-doubles on the season.
In addition to being selected to the all-conference first team, first-year Carolina Rodriguez was selected as the GNAC Libero of the Year. Anchoring the Sharks defense, Rodriguez became the conference's first first-year since 2017 to receive the major award accolades. The last one first-year to do earn the honors was JWU's Elyssa Nicolas in 2017.
Joining Simmons and Rodriguez on the all-conference first team was senior outside hitter Claire Conners. Named to the All-GNAC First Team for the third time in her collegiate career, the California native finished fourth in the conference tallying 315 kills, while also notching a pair of double-doubles over the course of the season.
Senior setter Kat Simeondis was named to the All-GNAC second team for the third time in her career. Tallying five double-doubles, Simeonidis finished fifth amongst conference leaders in aces registering 62 on the season. Classmate senior outside hitter Jayla Parnell joined Simeonidis on the All-GNAC second team, following a career year with 228 kills to go along with 197 digs and 16 total blocks.
First-year outside hitter Hannah Pridgeon rounded out the Sharks, receiving All-GNAC third team recognition in addition to joining Rodriguez as a member of the GNAC All-Rookie Team. Earning GNAC Rookie of the Week honors, Pridgeon came on strong late in the season finishing fourth on the team with 155 kills.
In just his second year as head coach, Pat Helmas was named the 2023 Coach of the Year after leading the Sharks to an unblemished 15-0 conference record and secure the top spot in the conference standings for the first time in program history. Additionally, the Sharks also received the GNAC Sportsmanship Team Award.
2023 GNAC Volleyball All-Conference Team
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Claire Conners, Simmons
McKenna McCool, Lasell
Ahnasia Mckinney, Regis
Juliana Medini, Lasell
Peyton Oliver, Johnson & Wales
Lily Sills, Rivier
Carolina Rodriguez, Simmons
Chelsea Simmons, Simmons
Kamdyn Tenorio, Regis
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Victoria Briones, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Bliss Brown, Mitchell
Isabella Marquez, Emmanuel
Sarah Miller, Johnson & Wales
Avery Mola, Regis
Jayla Parnell, Simmons
Aryam Serrano-Monserrate, Regis
Kat Simeonidis, Simmons
ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
Sari Albury, Dean
Shannon Carey, U. of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Rita Dow, Regis
Abby Jerome, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Sydney Katz, Lasell
Hannah Pridgeon, Simmons
Torrance Robertson, New England College
Brynn Roche, Rivier
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Samiyah Cabrera, Elms
Larisa Comolli, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Grace Fabiano, Regis
Kason Huynh, Emmanuel
Avery Mola, Regis
Hannah Pridgeon, Simmons
Carolina Rodriguez, Simmons
Kelsie Tretera, Johnson & Wales
MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year - Chelsea Simmons, Simmons
Setter of the Year - Ahnasia Mckinney, Regis
Libero of the Year - Carolina Rodriguez, Simmons
Rookie of the Year - Kason Huynh, Emmanuel
Coach of the Year - Patrick Helmas, Simmons
Institutional Sportsmanship - Simmons
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Yarelis Torres, Albertus Magnus
Sarah Burt, Anna Maria
Olivia DeShane, Colby-Sawyer
Bella Driscoll, Dean
Quiana Gibbs, Elms
Brigid Moriarty, Emmanuel
Kelsie Tretera, Johnson & Wales
Emily Cerasani, Lasell
Allison Blum, Mitchell
Tatiana Sampson, New England College
Abby Kanaga, Norwich
Toni Ondris, Regis
Sofia Pawlusik, Rivier
Sam Holland, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
April Beatty, Simmons
Katina Nanos, U. of Saint Joseph (Conn.)