Elon and Hofstra Each Collect Two CAA Volleyball Major Awards; JMU’s Miëtte Veldman Named Player of the Year
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 17, 2021) – James Madison’s
Miëtte Veldman was selected as the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Volleyball Player of the Year, while Elon and Hofstra each collected two CAA year-end awards as voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.
Haylie Clark of Elon was named CAA Setter of the Year, while Hofstra’s
Chiara Cucco and
Beatriz Alves earned the respective honors of CAA Libero and CAA Rookie of the Year. Elon’s
Mary Tendler was selected as the CAA Coach of the Year by her peers.
After CAA Rookie of the Year honors during the spring, Veldman took home CAA Player of the Year honors this fall. She becomes the third CAA Player of the Year in James Madison program history and the first since Janey Goodman won the award back-to-back in 2015-16. Veldman paced the CAA with 4.09 kills per set and added 2.30 digs per set throughout the year. The sophomore outside hitter posted double-digit kills in 17 of her 21 matches this season, including 15 of her last 16.
Clark is the first CAA Setter of the Year recipient in Elon program history but is the second Phoenix major award winner in as many seasons. The senior ranked second in the conference in assists (868) and third in assists per set (9.43). She recorded double-digit assists in all 26 matches this fall and had 30 or more assists on 17 occasions. Additionally, Clark added 32 service aces (0.35 per set) and 179 digs (1.95 per set) while recording six double-doubles.
Cucco earns CAA Libero of the Year accolades in just her first collegiate season. The freshman led the CAA with 465 digs and paced the league with 4.70 digs per set. Cucco began her career with 17 straight matches eclipsing double-digit digs and recorded 23 such performances this season. Furthermore, she tallied 20 or more digs on nine occasions, highlighted by a career-high 32 digs on September 3.
Alves collects CAA Rookie of the Year honors, becoming the fifth CAA Rookie of the Year in Hofstra program history. Alves had an impressive freshman campaign, leading the conference with 965 assists and 9.75 assists per set. She also contributed 78 kills (0.79 per set), 35 service aces (0.35 per set), and 188 digs (1.90 per set). Alves recorded at least 20 assists in all 27 matches this season and had 40 or more nine times, including a season-best 55 assists in her collegiate debut.
Tendler earns CAA Coach of the Year accolades for the first time during her tenure with the Phoenix. Under her direction, Elon posted a program-best 11-5 record in CAA competition. It marks the most wins in conference play since the Phoenix went 11-5 in the SoCon during the 2010 season. Tendler has coached two student-athletes to CAA major award honors in the past two seasons, giving Elon its first two CAA major award winners in program history. Tendler is looking to lead Elon to its first-ever CAA Championship game appearance and continue a historic season.
Seven different programs were represented on the All-CAA First Team. James Madison and Towson each had two student-athletes on the first team. Veldman was joined by her teammate
Sophia Davis, while
Fay Bakodimou and
Emily Jarome represented Towson. Additionally, Charleston’s
Lexi Wierzbicki, Delaware’s
Lani Mason, Elon’s
Leah Daniel, Hofstra’s
Ana Martinovic and
Julia Brown of William & Mary made up the All-CAA First Team.
2021 CAA Volleyball First Team
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Fay Bakodimou |
Towson |
Sr. |
OH |
Athens, Greece |
| Julia Brown |
William & Mary |
Gr. |
MB |
Geneva, Ill. |
| Leah Daniel |
Elon |
Sr. |
OH |
Zionsville, Ind. |
| Sophia Davis |
James Madison |
Jr. |
MB |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| Emily Jarome |
Towson |
Sr. |
OH |
Wilmington, Del. |
| Lani Mason |
Delaware |
Jr. |
OH |
Chester, Va. |
| Ana Martinovic |
Hofstra |
Gr. |
OH |
Belgrade, Serbia |
| Lexi Wierzbicki |
Charleston |
Jr. |
OH |
Easley, S.C. |
| Miëtte Veldman |
James Madison |
So. |
OH |
Daleville, Va. |
2021 CAA Volleyball Second Team
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Beatriz Alves |
Hofsra |
Fr. |
S |
São José dos Campos, Brazil |
| Ezgi Basaranlar |
Delaware |
Jr. |
S |
Istanbul, Turkey |
| Nina Cajic |
Towson |
So. |
OH |
Subotica, Serbia |
| Haylie Clark |
Elon |
Sr. |
S/RS |
Saint Cloud, Fla. |
| Chiara Cucco |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
L/DS |
Buscate, Italy |
| Nailah Jenkins |
Northeastern |
Jr. |
MB |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Jenn Krzeminski |
Elon |
Jr. |
MB |
Furlong, Pa. |
| Lauryn Richardson |
Delaware |
Jr. |
OPP/OH |
Houston, Texas |
| Erica Staunton |
Northeastern |
Jr. |
OPP/OH |
Orland Park, Ill. |
2021 CAA Player of the Year: Miëtte Veldman, James Madison
2021 CAA Setter of the Year: Haylie Clark, Elon
2021 CAA Libero of the Year: Chiara Cucco, Hofstra
2021 CAA Rookie of the Year: Beatriz Alves, Hofstra
2021 CAA Coach of the Year: Mary Tendler, Elon
2021 CAA Volleyball All-Rookie Team
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Beatriz Alves |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
S |
São José dos Campos, Brazil |
| Chiara Cucco |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
L/DS |
Buscate, Italy |
| Jessica Frannea |
Northeastern |
Fr. |
S |
Cypress, Texas |
| Jasmin Goei |
Charleston |
Fr. |
S |
Wilmington, N.C. |
| Sydney Love |
Elon |
Fr. |
OH |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| Florencia Wolkowyski |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
OH |
Calahonda-Mijas, Spain |
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