2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship Program

2017 METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE C H A M P I O N S H I P VOLLEYBALL

OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM

N OV 17-19, 2017 | H OSTED B Y F AIRFIELD U NIVERSITY | F AIRFIELD , CT

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

STAFF DIRECTORY

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Office 712 Amboy Avenue Edison, New Jersey 08837 (732) 738-5455

Richard J. Ensor, Esq. ............................................................................................................ Commissioner Jessica Hegmann................................................................................... Senior Associate Commissioner/SWA Jordan Confessore.......................................................................... Associate Commissioner/Men’s Basketball Dedra Palmer.................................................................................... Assistant Commissioner/Championships Tess M. Romine-Black............................................................................. Assistant Commissioner/New Media Lily Rodriguez.........................................................................Director of Championships & SAAC Coordinator Colby Wehner....................................................................................................... Director of Championships Rob DeVita....................................................................................... Director of New Media/Communications Anthony Ruggiero.............................................................................. Director of New Media/Communications Kyle Firestine. .................................................................................................. Director of New Media/Video Erika Seagren........................................................................................................... Director of Compliance Alexis Wayne. ............................................................................... Director of Women’s Basketball Operations Erin Cronin..................................................................................................................Fellow/Administrative Toni Derby...................................................................................................................Fellow/Administrative Shawn Gillen................................................................................................................... Fellow/New Media Pg Championships Schedule.......................................................................................................................... 5 About the MAAC. ..................................................................................................................................... 9 MAAC Commissioner.............................................................................................................................. 14 Championship Bracket............................................................................................................................ 16 Disney Story.......................................................................................................................................... 18 Goodworks Update. ................................................................................................................................ 20 Commissioner’s Cup............................................................................................................................... 23 Canisius College..................................................................................................................................... 25 Fairfield University................................................................................................................................. 27 Iona College. ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Manhattan College. ................................................................................................................................ 31 Marist College........................................................................................................................................ 33 Niagara University.................................................................................................................................. 35 Quinnipiac University. ............................................................................................................................ 37 Rider University..................................................................................................................................... 39 Saint Peter’s University........................................................................................................................... 41 Siena College......................................................................................................................................... 43 Volleyball Championship History................................................................................................................... 44 Volleyball Records................................................................................................................................... 46 TABLE OF CONTENTS Content

For more information about becoming a MAAC Corporate Partner please contact:

Greg Terlizzi Director, Sales & Business Development

John Obropta Vice President, Sales (W) 914-708-5024 (C) 914-319-6024 jobropta@ancsports.com

(W) 914-708-5023 (C) 914-438-2837 gterlizzi@ancsports.com

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017-18 MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country October 28, 2017 | Hosted by Monmouth University | Holmdel Park, Holmdel, NJ

Women’s Soccer October 28 - November 1, 2017 | ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Field Hockey November 3-5, 2017 | Hosted by Monmouth University

Men’s Soccer November 5, 2017 | First Round: Hosted by #3 Canisius and #4 Manhattan November 9, 2017 | Semifinals: Hosted by #1 Fairfield and #2 Rider November 12, 2017 | Final: Hosted by #1 Fairfield

Volleyball November 17-19, 2017 | Hosted by Fairfield University | Alumni Hall, Fairfield, CT

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving February 14-17, 2018 | Erie Community College, Buffalo, NY

Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field February 17-18, 2018 | New Balance Armory Track & Field Center, New York, NY

Men’s & Women’s Basketball March 1-5, 2018 | Times Union Center, Albany, NY

Men’s & Women’s Golf April 20-22, 2018 | Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, Lake Buena Vista, FL

Water Polo April 28-29, 2018 | Hosted by Marist College | McCann Natatorium, Poughkeepsie, NY

Men’s & Women’s Tennis April 28-29, 2018 | Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ

Women’s Lacrosse April 28, 2018 | First Round: Hosted by 3 and 4 Seeds May 4-6, 2018 | Semifinals & Final: Hosted by Highest Seed

Men’s Lacrosse May 3-5, 2018 | Hosted by TBD

Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field May 5-6, 2018 | Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ

Softball May 9-13, 2018 | Hosted by Highest Seed

Women’s Rowing May 13, 2018 | Cooper River Park, Pennsauken Township, NJ

Baseball May 22-27, 2018 | Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Staten Island, NY

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2016-17 CHAMPIONS

2016 Men’s Cross Country . ............................................................................. Iona College 2016 Women’s Cross Country .......................................................................... Iona College 2016 Women’s Soccer .................................................................Monmouth University 2016 Field Hockey . ....................................................................Monmouth University 2016 Men’s Soccer ............................................................................ Rider University 2016 Volleyball . ............................................................................ Fairfield University 2017 Men’s Swimming & Diving .......................................................... Rider University 2017 Women’s Swimming & Diving . .......................................................Marist College 2017 Men’s Indoor Track & Field ......................................................... Rider University 2017 Women’s Indoor Track & Field . ............................................Monmouth University 2017 Men’s Basketball .............................................................................Iona College 2017 Women’s Basketball . ......................................................... Quinnipiac University 2017 Men’s Golf ......................................................................Saint Peter’s University 2017 Women’s Golf .................................................................... Quinnipiac University 2017 Men’s Tennis . ....................................................................Monmouth University 2017 Women’s Tennis ................................................................ Quinnipiac University 2017 Water Polo ................................................................................. Wagner College 2017 Women’s Lacrosse .....................................................................Canisius College 2017 Men’s Lacrosse ..................................................................Monmouth University 2017 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field . ..............................................Monmouth University 2017 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field ...........................................Monmouth University 2017 Softball ................................................................................ Fairfield University 2017 Women’s Rowing .............................................................. Jacksonville University 2017 Baseball ......................................................................................Marist College

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

THE METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STORY

With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. The MAAC was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan College, and Saint Peter’s College. Competition followed one year later in the fall of 1981 with members competing in the sports of Men’s Cross Country and Men’s Soccer. On January 2, 1982, Army traveled to Iona for the first MAAC Men’s Basketball game and the MAAC story had begun. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. The MAAC supports 24 sports and championships during the 2017-18 academic year; in addition, the MAAC champion earns automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship in 16 sports.

LIVE GAMES. HIGHLIGHTS. INTERVIEWS. FEATURES. AND MUCH MORE.

In addition, associate members include the University of Detroit Mercy in Men’s Lacrosse. La Salle University, St. Francis Brooklyn, Villanova University, Virginia Military Institute, and Wagner College in Water Polo. Drake University, Jacksonville University, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, and Stetson University compete in Women’s Rowing. La Salle University, the University at Albany, University of Dayton, and the University of Hartford are members in Women’s Golf. Bryant University, LIU Brooklyn, and Sacred Heart University compete in Field Hockey, while Bryant University is a member in Men’s Swimming & Diving.

The MAAC Basketball Championships returns to the Times Union Center in Albany, NY for the fourth year in a row and will continue to be the host site for the Championships through 2019. The 2018 MAAC Basketball Championships marks the

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

19th time that Albany has hosted the event, more than any other location.

for student-athletes as the conference announced the formation of the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse leagues. The men’s league began competition in the spring of 1996, while the women’s league commenced in the spring of 1997. Since their inception as associate sports leagues, both Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse have been upgraded to full MAAC sports. The men’s league currently consists of six MAAC schools (Canisius, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Quinnipiac, and Siena along with one associate member Detroit Mercy). The women’s league features competition among nine MAAC institutions (Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Niagara, Quinnipiac, and Siena). The 2017 Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game aired on ESPNU and Sirius XM for the first time in history. In the spring of 2014, the MAAC expanded the championship field to six teams in Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Lacrosse, Softball, and Baseball.

By having an excellent working relationship with various facilities, the MAAC has been able to attract a number of NCAA Championships. The MAAC alongside Siena is slated to host the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional from the Times Union Center in Albany, NY from March 23-26. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional returns to Albany, NY for the first time since 2015 when the MAAC and Siena hosted the event at the Times Union Center, which was the highest selling site amongst all four regionals. The MAAC is slated to host five NCAA Championships from 2018-2022. Along with Siena, the MAAC serves as the host for the 2019 Women’s Basketball Regional from March 29-April 1 as well as the 2020 Men’s Basketball First & Second Rounds on March 19 & 21 at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY. Alongside Canisius and Niagara, the MAAC will host the 2019 Men’s Frozen Four from April 11-13 along with the 2022 Men’s Basketball First & Second Rounds on March 17 & 19 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. In 2016-17, the MAAC hosted the NCAA Division I Cross Country Northeast Regional at Van Cortlandt Park with Iona and Manhattan, the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball First & Second Rounds at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY with Canisius and Niagara, which marked the fifth time that all three parties partnered for this same event (2004, 2007, 2010, and 2014), and the 2017 NCAA Division I, II, & III Rowing Championships with the Ivy League at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, NJ. The MAAC, Canisius, and Niagara successfully hosted the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Second and Third Rounds at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. The MAAC and Fairfield hosted the 2013 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. The MAAC and Rider hosted the 2012 NCAA Rowing Championships at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, NJ and also co-hosted the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Wells Fargo Center in

Academics and Athletics The MAAC prides itself on the accomplishments of its student-athletes in the classroom, as well as on the field. Mary Beth Riley, a 1991 graduate of Canisius, was the first recipient of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. In the fall of 1998, Erin Whalen, a member of the Iona Women’s Rowing team, was awarded one of the nation’s 32 Rhodes Scholarships for academic achievement and civic leadership. The most recent APR’s are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2015-16 academic years. All 11 MAAC institutions had at least one team that posted multi-year APR’s in the top 10% of all squads in each sport, with Siena having eight teams, Fairfield, Iona, and Marist all having six teams respectively in the top 10%. Men’s Golf and Women’s Cross Country programs led all MAAC sports with five recipients each. First-class facilities are the standard within the MAAC, as teams regularly play in top-notch arenas, such as Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, MassMutual Center, KeyBank Center, Times Union Center, Webster Bank Arena, Mohegan Sun Arena, and Sun National Bank Center. This year, the MAAC takes the 2017 Women’s Soccer Championships to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL from October 27-November 1. The 2018 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will be held once again at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course from April 19-22. In the past several years, a number of the MAAC schools have enjoyed success in national postseason play. This past season, Quinnipiac’s Women’s Basketball team won its first NCAA Championship game in program history and became the first MAAC school to advance to the Sweet 16 since Marist in 2007. The Bobcats defeated Marquette University and the University of Miami en route to their Sweet 16 appearance against the University of South Carolina. In 2015, Siena’s Women’s Basketball team became the first MAAC Women’s Basketball program to make it to a postseason championship game. The Saints advanced all the way to the title contest of the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) where Siena fell to Louisiana-Lafayette. In 2007, the Marist Women’s Basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to the eventual National Champion, the University of Tennessee. The Red Foxes have recorded an additional five NCAA wins since their run in 2007. Saint Peter’s Men’s Basketball team claimed the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) title, to become the first MAAC program to win a national postseason championship since Siena’s Men’s Basketball team in 2014. The Saints earned the league’s first basketball postseason championship in its history by winning the 2014 College Basketball Invitational (CBI). In 2013, the MAAC had a record six Men’s Basketball programs participate in postseason play – Iona (NCAA Championship), Niagara (NIT), Canisius, Fairfield, Loyola, and Rider (CIT). Canisius and Loyola both advanced to the Quarterfinal Round, while Rider reached the second round. In 2012, the MAAC had two teams advance to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship for the first time in 16 years, with Loyola earning the league’s automatic bid and Iona garnering an at-large bid.

Philadelphia. The MAAC and Rider co-hosted the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Regional at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ, after recording the third highest attendance figure for the women’s championship with the First & Second Rounds in 2006. In March of 2017, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the field of teams for the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, a college basketball tournament held in conjunction with the MAAC, Sport Changes Life, Rory McIlroy’s Foundation, the Rory Foundation, and The SSE Arena, Belfast. The two-day tournament held on December 1 and 2, will feature Holy Cross vs. Manhattan College and La Salle University vs. Towson University, followed by consolation and championship play on the second day. In February of 2017, it was announced that the MAAC will play a Men’s Basketball tripleheader at the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum presented by New York Community Bank on Saturday, January 27, 2018, in what will mark the conference’s first-ever basketball games at the venue. In the LONG ISLAND HOOPS event, Iona will play Manhattan, Fairfield will play Quinnipiac, and Marist will take on Monmouth.

In June of 1995, the MAAC developed new opportunities

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

The MAAC has also been a leader in the forefront of technology, expanding the notoriety of the league into cyberspace. In 2017, the league reached a conference-wide agreement with SIDEARM Sports, to design and host the MAAC web page. MAACSports.com has been a great success, providing fans with fresh content, up-to-date results, live and on-demand video, and an online merchandise store.

OFFICIAL SOFTBALL OF

In September 2011, the conference announced the launch of MAAC.TV, the league’s first broadband network. Eight

schools (Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Rider, and Saint Peter’s) were part of the original network. As of 2016-17 MAAC.TV hosted content for 10 schools and was the home to 151 live broadcasts. By 2018 MAAC.TV will become a true network, hosting content from all 11 institutions. In May 2014, the MAAC continued to grow its partnership with ESPN3 announcing the launch of the MAAC Branded ESPN3 Channel. All MAAC and school produced ESPN3 broadcasts are viewable as live or archived contents for all MAAC sports. During the 2016-17 season, Canisius, Iona, Fairfield, Monmouth, and Siena broadcasted a total of 100 combined school produced broadcasts. Under the new ESPN agreement, by the 2019-20 academic year all MAAC institutions will have ESPN3 school production capabilities. The initiative increases the MAAC’s long-term partnership with ESPN and is concurrent with the development of school based production facilities on the conference’s member campuses.

The MAAC President for the 2017-18 academic year is Dr. Brennan O’Donnell, the President of Manhattan College. The Vice- President is Gregory G. Dell’Omo, the President of Rider University. Commissioner Rich Ensor serves as the league’s Secretary/ Treasurer. , Eugene Doris Director of Athletics at Fairfield University, will chair the Committee on Athletic Administration, and Traci Murphy, Senior Woman Administrator at Canisius College will serve as Vice Chair.

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2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

the MAAC’s member schools. In 2016, the MAAC announced a new 8-year agreement with ESPN which includes broadcasts annually on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 including men’ and women’s basketball and championships from ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The deal also formalizes the launch of ESPN3 school production facilities at all MAAC schools which will produce upwards to 600 broadcasts a year by 2025-26. In 1998 the MAAC under Ensor’s direction began a new marketing and championship initiative when it entered into a multi-year agreement with Disney Sports Attractions to host on a rotating basis at the Orlando, FL facility the conference’s volleyball, men’s soccer, men’s & women’s cross country and women’s soccer championships. In 2000 the partnership was extended to the conference’s annual men’s and women’s golf championship at Disney on its Magnolia and Palm courses. In 2006 the MAAC the partnership with Disney when it entered into a multi-year hosting agreement with ESPN to sponsor the AdvoCare Men’s Basketball Invitational in Orlando. Most recently, the MAAC extended its agreement with Disney Sports through 2022. Included in the extension was the launch of an MAAC/Atlantic Sun Basketball Challenge which in 2019 and 2021 will have 4 teams (2 men’s/2 women’s) compete against each other at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. A 1975 graduate of Saint Peter’s University, Ensor has served in many administrative capacities in college sports including positions at his alma mater, Saint Louis University and Seton Hall University. In 1982, Ensor holds a Master’s degree in sports management with honors from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. An attorney, Ensor graduated from Seton Hall University’s School of Law in 1987 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in June of that year. He has taught as an Assistant Professor in Sport Management at UMass, where his concentration was on sports marketing and sports law. Ensor is a member of many professional associations, including the American Bar Association. In addition, Ensor is a member of sport- related associations such as the Sports Lawyers Association, the New Jersey Bar Association Sports Law Committee, the American Bar Association, Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, NACDA and the CAANJ. In 2017, Ensor was elected Treasurer of the Sports Lawyer’s Association. His community work has included terms as a board member of the Mercer County Sports & Entertainment Commission and the Monsignor Donovan High School Leadership Advisory Committee. He has published in the areas of Sport Law, and Sport Marketing. In 1994 Ensor served as chair of the New Jersey Bar Association Sport Law Committee. A member of the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association (CCA), Ensor in 2007 began a two-year elected term as President of the association. Ensor has been very involved in NCAA governance since 1999 when he began a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Management Council, a segment of the new national governing system for the intercollegiate sports association. He currently chairs the Council’s Governance subcommittee. Ensor had previously served on the old NCAA Council and in January 1996, he served

as Chair of the Division I-AA NCAA Convention/Business Session. Since 2016 he has served on the NCAA Nominating Committee. He previously served on the Division I Championships Cabinet where he chaired the exempted events subcommittee. Ensor has also served on the NCAA Division IAA Governance Committee and on NCAA committees dealing with playing season exemptions, athletic certification, and the regulatory culture of the NCAA, governance restructuring and antitrust issues. Ensor was appointed in 1996 and 2003 to a one-year terms as the chair of the IAA commissioners. From 1999-2003 he was served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Ice Hockey Collegiate Commissioners Association. In September 2017 Ensor will begin a term on the NCAA Council as its CCA IAA Commissioner Representative to the governing body. In 2007 Ensor extended his involvement with national issues when he was appointed to a 5-year term on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. The committee is charged with annually selecting teams, seeding, bracketing and operating the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship including the Final Four. In 2001 Ensor was named by the American Football Foundation as its Commissioner of the Year and in 1999 he was presented a Distinguished Service Award from the Metropolitan Basketball Writers and in 1998 was inducted into the Saint Peter’s University Hall of Fame. He also is a member of the Monsignor Donovan HS Hall of Fame. In 1996, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Sport Management Program named Ensor as the recipient of the VanderZwaag Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 1989, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities named Ensor as one of the “Leaders of Service” in its Bicentennial Series publication. In 1993, Ensor was honored by NACWA as a “Good Guy” for his efforts in regard to gender equity. In 2004 Ensor received a Mouscar from Walt Disney World for his efforts to make dreams happen for the MAAC’s student-athletes participating in championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports. In 2016, he was honored by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his leadership in basketball and contributions to the game. WBCA has honored Ensor twice for his contributions to women’s basketball with the coaches association’s Presidents Award in 2014 and as its Administrator of the Year in 2015. Ensor and his wife Deirdre, who is a Registered Nurse, are the parents of Kaitlin, Brendan, Kiernan, and Colleen. They reside in Lanoka Harbor, NJ.

MEET THE COMMISSIONER: RICHARD J. ENSOR

Richard J. Ensor was named the third Commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConfeRichard J. Ensor was named the third Commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in August 1988. In the 29 years since his appointment, Ensor has provided leadership to the conference in a period of transition and growth in intercollegiate athletics and the MAAC. During his tenure the MAAC has secured a stable membership

sports now have direct access to NCAA Championships for the first time in the history of the conference. (Up from 13 sports and two automatic bids in 1988.) To award its fans, arena partners and membership, the MAAC during Ensor’s tenure has been very aggressive in seeking out opportunities to host NCAA Championships in various sports. With member schools it has served as a co-host of the 1995, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds at the Times Union Center and the HSBC Arena (again the host for the 2014 2nd & 3rd rounds), respectively, and the 2003 NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional at the Albany, NY arena and the 2003 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four at the Buffalo venue. Additionally, the MAAC co-hosted the 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2016 NCAA Northeast Cross Country Regional at Van Cortlandt Park - Bronx, NY. In 2002, the MAAC was a co- host of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship at the Times Union Center, and it repeated as host in 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. All the NCAA men’s championships the MAAC has hosted with its arena partners have been sellouts. The MAAC co-hosted the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ in 2006 and then hosted the Trenton Regional at the same site in 2009. In 2013 the MAAC hosted the regional again, this time at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT, and in 2018 it will co- host the regional for the second time at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY with Siena College. This past April the MAAC was awarded a series of new NCAA Championships to host through 2022. These include: 2019 Men’s Frozen Four in Buffalo, NY, 2019 WBB Regional in Albany NY, and the 2020 & 2022 MBB First/Second Rounds with Albany hosting in 2020 and Buffalo in 2022. Ensor, who spearheads the league’s marketing efforts, has sought to tie the conference’s strong academic image into its marketing campaign. The MAAC has carved a well-earned niche as an athletic conference that balances quality academics and athletics. In 2016 the MAAC was ranked in the top quartile of the 31 NCAA Division I conferences in the NCAA’s Graduation Rate Success Report with 25 MAAC women’s sports teams and 13 men’s sports teams achieving a perfect APR score of 1,000. The marketing efforts have been timely, as it has highlighted the conference’s continued rise in the basketball standings. Ensor has aggressively pushed the MAAC into internet-based marketing through its award winning web page, www.maacsports.com, and other technology driven initiatives such as the league’s MAAC.TV. In 2014 the MAAC announced a new sponsorship representation agreement with ANC Sports Enterprises, LLC which is an industry leader in team and venue services, providing integrated signage, design, and marketing solutions for sports and commercial facilities. ANC maintains league-wide digital scoretable systems for

base, expanded the number of championships conducted and developed an extensive marketing program cemented with broadcast agreements with ESPN, a web paged hosted by NeuLion and partner championship venues such as the Times Union Center(Albany, NY), Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Disney Sports Attractions. During a time of tumultuous realignment within NCAA Division I conferences the MAAC remains a homogenous association of private institutions of similar size and funding, which are committed to student-athlete excellence both on the playing fields and in the classroom. Ensor is a past member of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and past president of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA). He serves on the boards of the Sports Lawyers Association, WBCA, Philadelphia Sports Congress, NCAA MBOLLC and NACDA’s IAAA ADs. In 2017 he will begin a term on the NCAA DI Council and serve on the Women’s Basketball Oversight and Advancement Committee. Under Ensor’s direction, the MAAC has focused efforts to showcase its member institutions in its annual men’s and women’s basketball tournament. Since 1990 with the support of the MAAC Council of Presidents and the league’s athletic administrators and coaches the MAAC has held its premier event in state of the art playing facilities such as the Times Union Center in Albany, NY, the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, the Sun National Bank Center (Trenton, NJ) and the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. The 2018 and 2019 championships will be hosted at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY. Ensor has also been instrumental in the expansion of MAAC sports offerings. In 1992 the MAAC added women’s soccer, in 1996 men’s lacrosse, and in 1997 women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s indoor track and rowing. In 1998, the MAAC added outdoor track and field and women’s golf, and in 2002-03 it added women’s water polo. The league currently sponsors 25 sports and is awarded automatic or play-in bids to 14 NCAA championships [baseball, softball, tennis (m&w), men’s golf, basketball (m&w), outdoor track (m&w), lacrosse (m&w), rowing (w), soccer (m&w) water polo (w), field hockey (w) and volleyball (w)]. Additionally, MAAC men’s and women’s cross country have access to the NCAA championship through a regional qualifier race. Over half the MAAC sponsored

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2018 MAAC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

MAAC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET NOVEMBER 17-19, 2017

MARCH 1-5, 2018 • TIMES UNION CENTER • ALBANY, NY

First Round Friday November 17

Semifinals Saturday November 18

Championship Sunday November 19

#1 Fairfield

Game 3 2:00 PM

#4 Marist

ESPN3

Game 2 8:00 PM ESPN3

Game 5 2:00 PM

#5 Rider

ESPN3

Champion

#2 Niagara

Game 4 5:00 PM

#3 Iona

ESPN3

Game 1 5:00PM ESPN3

#6 Quinnipiac

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION ON THE 2018 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S MAAC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS VISIT TICKETMASTER.COM OR MAACSPORTS.COM/BASKETBALL

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

THE DISNEY MAAC STORY

DISNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017-18 Women’s Soccer | October 28 - November 1, 2017 Men’s & Women’s Golf | April 19-22, 2018 2018-19 Volleyball | November 15-17, 2018 Men’s & Women’s Golf | April 19 - 21, 2018 DISNEY CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), along with Walt Disney World Resorts, enters its 19th year of hosting MAAC Championships in Lake Buena Vista, FL, as part of the conference’s mission to provide the best experience for its student-athletes and its fans. For the 2017-18 academic year, the MAAC Women’s Soc- cer Championship, featuring all 11 MAAC member schools, will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from October 28-November 1. The sports included in the rotation to be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports include Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball. In the fall of 2016, the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country took place at the complex with Iona College claiming victory in both championships.

Men’s Golf Champions 2000 Iona 2001 Iona 2002 Iona

Men’s Cross Country Champions 2000 Iona 2004 Iona 2008 Iona 2012 Iona 2016 Iona

Women’s Cross Country Champions 2000 Marist 2004 Marist

2008 Iona 2012 Iona 2016 Iona

2003 Loyola 2004 Loyola 2005 Loyola 2006 Siena 2007 Siena 2008 Loyola 2009 Loyola 2010 Loyola 2011 Loyola 2012 Loyola 2013 Loyola

The championship operation at Disney allows the MAAC to provide its participating student-athletes, their families,

Men’s Soccer Champions 1999 Fairfield 2003 Saint Peter’s 2007 Loyola 2011 Fairfield 2015 Rider 2017 Fairfield Volleyball Champions 1998 Fairfield 2002 Manhattan 2006 Siena 2010 Niagara 2014 Siena

Women’s Soccer Champions 2001 Loyola 2005 Fairfield 2009 Loyola

and fans a world-class sports championship experience. During the championship weekend in Disney, student-ath- letes have access to the playing facilities, on-site hotels, theme parks, and an awards banquet. These are designed to provide lasting memories for the student-athletes. The MAAC and ESPN have an agreement with Disney through 2018, which includes ESPN live broadcasting ele- ments for all the championships. ESPN’s state-of-the-art studios broadcast highlights of MAAC on-site tourna- ments throughout all Disney World Resort hotel properties as well as on ESPN3 and MAAC.TV. All MAAC contests for Volleyball, Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, and Men’s and Women’s Golf are broadcast by ESPN’s on-site studios. The MAAC has also co-hosted with ESPN since 2006 the Advocare Invitational (previously the Old Spice Classic) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. This eight-team tournament, which is held over Thanksgiving weekend, continues to draw elite Men’s Basketball teams to compete. One MAAC school is included in the field each year. Marist College represents the MAAC during the 2017 Advocare Invitational. During the 2015 Advocare Invitational, the two-time MAAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, Monmouth University’s Justin Robinson, set the tourna- ment scoring record with 77 points over three games to claim MVP honors. The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships are held at the Disney complex. The Men’s and Women’s Golf teams compete at PGA-caliber courses during the spring and rotate between Disney’s Palm and Magnolia Arnold Palmer managed courses. The golf hosting agreement at Disney was recently extended through the 2018 champi- onships. The MAAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) volunteers at a local charity, assists in the championship operations, and holds its fall meeting during the MAAC Championship weekend while in Disney. Two MAAC SAAC commercials are produced at ESPN studios to be used during the season on MAAC school produced broadcasts.

2013 Monmouth 2017 Monmouth

2014 Saint Peter’s 2015 Saint Peter’s 2016 Siena 2017 Saint Peter’s

Women’s Golf Champions 2000 Fairfield

2001 Siena 2002 Siena 2003 Siena 2004 Siena 2005 Siena 2006 Siena 2007 Siena 2008 Siena 2009 Siena 2010 Siena 2011 Siena 2012 Siena 2013 Butler 2014 Siena 2015 Albany

2016 Quinnipiac 2017 Quinnipiac

18 EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 19

GOODWORKS PROGRAM UPDATE

Under the Geico GoodWorks Program structure, MAAC member schools who have completed community service projects will be featured each month throughout the academic year. Monthly releases will be published and archived on MAACSports.com that highlight the volunteer efforts of MAAC schools during that month.

Helper Helper is a provider of volunteer management software that allows athletic departments to coordinate and track the community service efforts of their student athletes. Helper Helper was founded by former University of Michigan basketball player Krista Clement to simplify the volunteer process for students and in turn, help them create a lasting impact within their communities and themselves.

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

2017-18 COMMISSIONER’S CUP STANDINGS

2017-18 Champions Men’s Cross Country: ................................................ Iona College

Men’s Standings

School

Points 22.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 19.50 14.50 12.50 11.00 10.50

1. Fairfield University T2. Canisius College T2. Manhattan College 4. Rider University

Women’s Cross Country: ........................................... Iona College

Women’s Soccer: ....................................... Monmouth University

5. Iona College

6. Quinnipiac University

Field Hockey: ................................................. Fairfield University

7. Siena College

8. Monmouth University

Men’s Soccer: ................................................ Fairfield University

9. Marist College

Volleyball:

T10.Niagara University

3.00 3.00

T10.Saint Peter’s University

Men’s Swim & Dive:

Women’s Swim & Dive:

Men’s Indoor Track & Field:

Women’s Standings

Women’s Indoor Track & Field:

School

Points 35.00 23.00 21.00 18.75 18.00 17.75 16.25 14.75 10.00

1. Monmouth University 2. Manhattan College 3. Quinnipiac University T4. Fairfield University

Men’s Basketball:

Women’s Basketball:

Men’s Golf:

T4. Siena College 6. Marist College 7. Rider University

Women’s Golf:

8. Iona College

Men’s Rowing:

9. Canisius College 10. Niagara University

6.75 2.00

Women’s Rowing:

11. Saint Peter’s University

Men’s Tennis:

Women’s Tennis:

Women’s Water Polo:

Overall Standings

School

Points 46.00 43.00 40.00 36.25 35.50 34.25 30.50 30.00 28.25

Women’s Lacrosse:

1. Monmouth University 2. Manhattan College 3. Fairfield University 5. Quinnipiac University 6. Iona College 7. Siena College 8. Canisius College 9. Marist College 10. Niagara University 11. Saint Peter’s University 4. Rider University

Men’s Lacrosse:

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field:

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field:

Softball:

Baseball:

9.75 5.00

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 23

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

CANISIUS COLLEGE

®

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION...

WHILE CONTINUING TO PLAY BASKETBALL OR GOLF...

AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLES LIVES... ALL IN WHILE LIVING IRELAND? IF THE ANSWER IS “YES” THE VICTORY SCHOLARSHIP MIGHT BE FOR YOU!

Location............................... Buffalo, NY Founded........................................1870 Enrollment. ..................................3,196 Colors................................. Blue & Gold Nickname........................ Golden Griffins President.......................... John J. Hurley Director of Athletics. ...............Bill Maher Head Coach.....................Lenika Vazquez Assistant Coach. ................ Chris Krueger Assistant Coach. ............Mohamed Diyani

2017 ROSTER

No. Name

Yr. Pos.

Ht.

Hometown/Previous School Grand Island, NY/Grand Island

0 Alexandra George Sr.

MB 6-2

1 Claire Leonard Fr.

OH/MB 6-0

Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf

2 Sofia Lopez Acosta Jr.

L

5-7 Mexicali, Mexico/Arizona Western College

3 Cassidy Ceriani

So. S

5-11

San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch

4 Kristen Plukas

Sr.

L/DS 5-5 West Irondequoit, NY/West Irondequoit

5 Carly Shifflet

So. OH/RS 5-8

Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East

7 Gabrielle Darnaby So. OH 6-0

Selden, NY/Newfield

8 Samantha Zebuth Sr.

RS

6-1

Coram, NY/St. Anthony’s

9 Tamia Bowden Fr.

MH 6-1

Lexington, KY/Lafayette

CANISIUS COLLEGE WEBSITE GOGRIFFS.COM SCHEDULE/RESULTS

11 Donnett Hickson Jr.

L/DS 5-3

West Seneca, NY/Orchard Park

12 Andrea Diaz Lopez Fr. OH 5-10

Caguas, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame

13 Leah Simmons

So. MB 6-1

Abington, PA/Abington

STATISTICS STANDINGS

15 Sara Wesley

Jr. M/B 5-10

Exeter, PA/Exeter/Township

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY WEEKLY AWARDS

TWITTER: @GOGRIFFS FACEBOOK: /GOGRIFFS

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.SPORTCHANGESLIFE.COM/VICTORY_SCHOLARSHIPS

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 25

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY

OFFICIAL BASEBALL OF

Location.............................. Fairfield, CT Founded........................................1942 Enrollment. ..................................5,137 Colors.................................Red & White Nickname......................................Stags President............... Mark R. Nemec, PhD. Director of Athletics. ....Paul Schlickmann Head Coach........................... Todd Kress Assistant Coach. ...............Julia Anderson

2017 ROSTER

No. Name

Yr. Pos Ht. Sr. OH 5-8

Hometown/Previous School Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay-East Fishskill Minooka, IL/Minooka Community/ University at Buffalo

2 Megan Theiller

3 Skyler Day

Sr. OH 5-10

4 Luci Albertson Fr. MB 6-0

Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park

5 Sydney Williams Jr.

MB 6-1

Porter, TX/Porter

6 Jamie Calandro So. DS

5-7

Sandy Hook, CT/Newtown

8 Kaitlyn Fisher

Jr.

RS

6-2

Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North

9 Sydney Buckley Sr. S

5-9

Kansas City, MO/Bishop Miege (Kan.)

10 Sonja Radulovic So. OH 5-10

Toronto, Ontario,/Cedarbrae C.I.

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY WEBSITE FAIRFIELDSTAGS.COM SCHEDULE/RESULTS

13 Mayda Garcia

So. OH/RS 5-9

McAllen, TX/James Nikki Rowe

14 Kaylie Butts

Fr. MB 6-1

Tampa, FL/ Henry B. Plant

15 Manuela Nicolini So. S

5-9

Castelnuovo Rangone, Italy/ Istituto D’Arte A. Venturi

STATISTICS STANDINGS

16 Nora Quinn

Jr.

MB 6-2

Park Ridge, IL/Maine South

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY WEEKLY AWARDS

17 Taylor Rudeen Jr.

DS

5-8

San Pedro, CA/Bishop Montgomery

TWITTER: @FAIRFIELDSTAGS FACEBOOK: /FAIRFIELDUATHLETICS

facebook.com/rawlings

@RawlingsSports

@RawlingsSG

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 27

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

IONA COLLEGE

Location........................... New Rochelle, NY Founded............................................. 1940 Enrollment. ....................................... 3,179 Colors...................................Maroon & Gold Nickname........................................... Gaels President.....................Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. Acting President. ..............Jon Strauss, Ph.D. VP of Athletics Administration.... Rick Cole Jr. Head Coach.......................... Patric Santiago Assistant Coach. ......................... Nick Russo Graduate Assistant...............Morgan Roessler Team Moderator.................... Fr. Frank Dixon

2017 ROSTER

No. Name

Yr. Pos.

Ht.

Hometown/Previous School

1 Alexandra Russo So. DS/L 5-2

Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore

3 Claire Archibald Jr.

OH 5-10

Coto de Caza, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic

4 Emma Rose

Jr.

S

5-9

Coventry, CT/Coventry

5 Kassandra Darnaby Sr.

OH 5-11

Selden, NY/Newfield

7 Shaina Campbell Sr.

MB 6-0

Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas

8 Jessica Paolucci

Jr.

L

5-7

Lake Mary, FL/Lake Mary

9 Jamie Smith

Fr.

S

5-11

Massapequa, NY/Massapequa

10 Amanda Gannon Jr.

OH 5-11

Kings Park, NY/Kings Park

13 Taylor Cole

Fr. L/DS 5-9

Oakdale, NY/Connetquot

IONA COLLEGE WEBSITE ICGAELS.COM SCHEDULE/RESULTS

15 Tess Connolly

So. OH 5-11

Kirtland Hills, OH/Lake Catholic

18 Mia Bonsignore Jr. MB 5-11

Solon, OH/Solon

23 Karla Johnson So. MB 6-0

Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown

STATISTICS STANDINGS

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY WEEKLY AWARDS

TWITTER: @ICGAELS FACEBOOK: /ICGAELS

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 29

2017 MAAC Volleyball Championship

MANHATTAN COLLEGE

THE OFFICIAL PHOTOSTORE OF THE METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Location............................ Riverdale, NY Founded........................................1853 Enrollment. ..................................3,674 Colors..............................Green & White Nickname................................... Jaspers President..........Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D. Director of Athletics. ....... Marianne Reilly Head Coach.......................... Lora Sarich

2017 ROSTER

No. Name

Yr. Pos. Ht. Fr. OPP 6-0

Hometown/Previous School Tamarac, FL/Cardinal Gibbons

0 Jade Jeffrey

2 Alyssa Rehrer

Jr. DS 5-7

Lorton, VA/South County

3 Mary Donnelly Sr OH 6-0

Temecula, CA/Chaparral

4 Zoe Lindsey

Jr S 5-8

McHenry, IL/McHenry

5 Monika Simikic Jr. OH 5-10

Laguna Niguel, CA/Aliso Niguel

6 Reyn Hoffman Fr. DS 5-4

Ventura, CA/Ventura

7 Casey Monroe Jr. OPP 6-3

Riverview, FL/Riverview

8 Meagan Miller

Fr. MB 6-2

Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar

9 Kenza Hall

So. MB 5-11

Oakland, CA/Middle Tennessee State

MANHATTAN COLLEGE WEBSITE GOJASPERS.COM SCHEDULE/RESULTS

11 Olyvia Chaltas Jr. OH 6-1

Temecula, CA/Great Oak

12 Taylor Hasley

So. S 6-0

Memphis, TN/St. Agnes Academy

13 Erin Hoener

Fr. MB 6-1

St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word

STATISTICS STANDINGS

14 Ginamarie Napoli Fr. MB 5-10

Elmsford, NY/Maria Regina

15 Claudine Taylor

Fr. DS 5-5

Charlotte, NC/Butler

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY WEEKLY AWARDS

16 Samantha Wagner Jr. DS 5-8

Sandy, UT/Hofstra

17 Sandra Lozanova Jr. OH 5-11

Pernik, Bulgaria/First English Language School/Fresno State

TWITTER: @GOJASPERS FACEBOOK: /OFFICIALMANHATTANJASPER

EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS 31