Four Teams Represented with Major Awards as CAA Volleyball Announces Year-End Honors
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 16, 2022) – Four teams were represented with major awards, highlighted by Delaware’s
Lani Mason earning CAA Player of the Year accolades in the announcement of 2022 CAA Volleyball year-end honors as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.
Beatriz Alves of Hofstra was named CAA Setter of the Year, and Pride teammate Chiara Cucco was selected as the CAA Libero of the Year. Additionally, Stony Brook’s Kali Moore garnered CAA Rookie of the Year honors, while Towson’s Don Metil was tabbed as the CAA Coach of the Year by his peers.
Mason becomes the second player in Delaware program history to earn CAA Player of the Year honors and the first since 2007. The senior outside hitter led the CAA in points (536.0) and kills (490), ranking seventh and eighth nationally in each respective category. Mason topped the CAA and is fifth in the NCAA with 5.10 kills per set this season. She reached double-digit kills in 24 matches this season, including nine with 20 or more and five occasions with at least 30 kills. Defensively, Mason has contributed 2.74 digs per set throughout the year with 15 double-digit dig performances and recorded 13 double-doubles.
Alves collects her second major postseason award in as many seasons after being named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2021. She is the only player in the league with over 1,000 assists this season, leading the CAA with 1,024 and ranking first in the conference with 9.94 assists per set. Alves had at least 20 assists in every match this season, with 30 or more 20 times and at least 40 on nine occasions. Additionally, she eclipsed 50 twice, including a career-high 56 on November 6.
Cucco earns CAA Libero of the Year honors for the second consecutive year, becoming the fourth player in league history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. She was the first player from Hofstra to win the honor last season and has continued to excel on the backline in her sophomore year. Cucco led the CAA with 453 digs and posted a league-best 4.92 digs per set in conference play. Cucco recorded at least 10 digs in 25 matches this season, including eighth 20-plus dig performances.
Moore makes Stony Brook program history, becoming the first CAA major award winner for the Seawolves during their inaugural season in the conference. Moore led all first-year players with 310 kills and was fifth in the conference overall with 3.23 kills per set this season. Additionally, Moore tallied 253 digs, 2.64 digs per set during her freshman campaign, posting 10 double-doubles throughout the year.
Metil earns his fourth CAA Coach of the Year honor during his tenure at Towson. He guided the Tigers to a 26-1 record and its third straight regular season title this fall. As a team, Towson led the CAA in all but one statistical category, including hitting percentage (.280), opponent hitting percentage (.137), assists per set (13.00), blocks per set (2.83), kills per set (13.87) and service aces per set (1.82). Towson started the year a program-best 18-0, and the Tigers earned their first win over a ranked opponent in program history, defeating No. 7 Pittsburgh on September 10. Subsequently, Towson has received votes in the AVCA poll for 10 straight weeks.
Alves and Cucco were accompanied on the All-CAA First Team by their teammate Zyare Abdul-Rahim representing Hofstra. Towson also had three First Team all-conference selections, with Victoria Barrett, Nina Cajic, and Lydia Wiers making it for the Tigers. Additionally, Mason represented Delaware, while Elon’s Leah Daniel and Erica Staunton of Northeastern rounded out the All-CAA First Team.
First Team All-CAA
| Name |
School |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Zyare Abdul-Rahim |
Hofstra |
R-Sr. |
OH/RS |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Beatriz Alves |
Hofstra |
So. |
S |
São José dos Campos, Brazil |
| Victoria Barrett |
Towson |
So. |
OH |
Stafford, Va. |
| Nina Cajic |
Towson |
Jr. |
OPP |
Subotica, Serbia |
| Chiara Cucco |
Hofstra |
So. |
L/DS |
Buscate, Italy |
| Leah Daniel |
Elon |
Sr. |
OH |
Zionsville, Ind. |
| Lani Mason |
Delaware |
Sr. |
OH |
Chester, Va. |
| Erica Staunton |
Northeastern |
Sr. |
OH |
Orland Park, Ill. |
| Lydia Wiers |
Towson |
Sr. |
MB |
Willard, Ohio |
Second Team All-CAA
| Name |
School |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Ezgi Basaranlar |
Delaware |
Sr. |
S |
Istanbul, Turkey |
| Claire Campbell |
Charleston |
Gr. |
MB |
Raleigh, N.C. |
| Haylie Clark |
Elon |
Sr. |
S/RS |
Saint Cloud, Fla. |
| Nailah Jenkins |
Northeastern |
Sr. |
MB |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Kali Moore |
Stony Brook |
Fr. |
OH |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| Anna Porter |
William & Mary |
Sr. |
L |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Naiya Sawtelle |
North Carolina A&T |
So. |
OH |
Stuart, Fla. |
| Aayinde Smith |
Towson |
Jr. |
MB |
Garland, Texas |
| Izadora Stedile |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
OH |
Paraná, Brazil |
| Eleanor Stothoff |
William & Mary |
So. |
OH |
Pittstown, N.J. |
2022 CAA Player of the Year: Lani Mason, Delaware
2022 CAA Setter of the Year: Beatriz Alves, Hofstra
2022 CAA Libero of the Year: Chiara Cucco, Hofstra
2022 CAA Rookie of the Year: Kali Moore, Stony Brook
2022 CAA Coach of the Year: Don Metil, Towson
CAA All-Rookie Team
| Name |
School |
Class |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Sarah Jordan |
Towson |
Fr. |
S |
Leesburg, Va. |
| Clara LaRue |
Elon |
Fr. |
OH |
Lewisville, N.C. |
| Ryann Love |
William & Mary |
Fr. |
MB |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| Kali Moore |
Stony Brook |
Fr. |
OH |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| Emilly Nunes |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
MB |
Brasilia, Brazil |
| Izadora Stedile |
Hofstra |
Fr. |
OH |
Paraná, Brazil |
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