Baran, Aceituno, Schmitt Headline Women’s Volleyball All-NECC Selections

MANSFIELD, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's volleyball team garnered three All-New England Collegiate Conference nods headlined by sophomore Eliana Baran (Beaumont, Calif.) repeating as NECC Player of the Year. Freshman Andrea Aceituno (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) claimed NECC Rookie of the Year accolades while head coach Derek Schmitt was voted NECC Coach of the Year for the second-straight year.

Amya Altman (Butler, Pa.) joined Baran and Aceituno on the All-NECC Team and Madison Harrington (Petersham, Mass.) earned a spot on the NECC Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.

Baran ranks fifth in NCAA Division III and leads the conference with 4.55 kills-per-set this season. She also paces the NECC with 273 kills on the year. Baran has also registered 100 digs, 28 blocks, and 25 service aces this fall.

In conference play, she notched a team-best 56 kills to go along with 13 digs and seven blocks.

Aceituno ranked second on the squad and third in the conference with 186 kills this season. She also recorded 188 digs and 50 aces this fall. In league action, she posted 38 kills to go with 30 digs and 15 service aces.

Altman ranked second in the NECC with 56 aces on the year and ranked fifth with 225 digs. in conference competition, she chalked up 34 digs and 26 aces.

Harrington appeared in three matches on the season while contributing three kills and seven aces.

Schmitt guided Eastern Nazarene to a 21-1 overall record during the regular season and an unblemished 6-0 mark in the New England Collegiate Conference – including an 18-0 record in sets. In Schmitt's sixth season, the Lions captured the NECC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the NECC Tournament.

Top-seeded Eastern Nazarene will host No. 4 seed Lesley in the NECC semifinals November 3.