SCHENECTADY, NY -- Head Coach Sandy Collins recently hosted the annual Union College volleyball team banquet at Delmonico's Restaurant. The coach recognized a team that posted 20 victories, the third straight season with 20 or more wins and the fifth time in her 10 year tenure.

The Coaches Award went to senior captain Cristina Liquori.  

"Our Coaches Award is presented to a wonderful young lady who's contributions to our program don't necessarily show up in the stats at the end of the match but who's contributions have been nonetheless so valuable to our success," said Collins. "It's been a pleasure having Cristina Liquori involved in our volleyball program for the last four years, and her family for the last 10 years. Cristina is always willing to step forward and take on additional responsibility, has always put the team first, is a true leader, the model of a great teammate, and the heart and soul of our program.”

 

The Audrey Brennan Memorial MVP Award was presented to senior captain Veronica Mynders. 

"The Audrey Brennan Memorial MVP Award is presented to an individual who has re-written the record books in so many categories," said Collins. "Roni is ranked second in matches played with 147; third in games played with 520, 11th in career aces, first in career digs with 2848, first in career digs per game with 5.48, holds the single match digs record of 43, holds the single season digs record of 1050, and holds the single season digs per game record with 7.1. She was the volleyball program's first ever NYSWCAA Defensive Player of the Year and the volleyball program's second ever AVCA All American. All the numbers aside, she's a leader on and off the court and for everything that she is as a volleyball athlete, she's even more than that as a teammate and a person.”

 

Mynders made a team-leading 657 digs, four kills and notched 18 assists this season. Mynders was named Most Valuable Player of the Interleague Challenge hosted by Union on Oct. 10-11. She was also selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Hartwick Invitational on Sept. 7.

Union was 20-20 and Collins, the winningest coach in the program's history, won her 200th career match on October 24 vs. Colby Sawyer.