Garlacy, Kuhar recognized by Words Unlimited
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy and men's tennis senior Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) have been recognized by Words Unlimited as the 2018 Female Sports Coach of the Year and the 2018 Male Athlete of the Year, respectively, and will be honored for their achievements on Sunday, March 10.
Words Unlimited, the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists, will hold its 73rd annual Sports Awards Banquet on Sunday, March 10 at the Cranston Country Club, 69 Burlingame Rd, Cranston. Reception will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30.
Garlacy's 23rd season as head coach of the Black & Gold proved to be one of her most memorable in 2018. The Smithfield native reached a career milestone in September when she won her 500th career match in a sweep of Coppin State at a renovated Chace Athletic Center. The Bryant non-conference slate included the Bulldogs' first victory at Providence, a second-straight win over America East champion Stony Brook and wins over Conference USA and MAC members. The non-conference success prepared the Bulldogs for NEC play, as Bryant won 10 or more conference matches for the fourth-straight season. The Bulldogs went to the NEC Championship in Brooklyn in November and took home the program's first Division I conference title with a sweep of Sacred Heart. Bryant would go on to face No. 2 national seed Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kuhar enjoyed an outstanding stretch in the 2018 calendar year. He repeated as the NEC Player of the Year, helping the men's tennis team capture its league-record fifth-straight title. Kuhar received several more accolades once the season was over, picking up ITA Northeast Most Improved Senior honors and USTA Rhode Island Player of the Year honors. He also became the first tennis player in program history to earn a national ranking, coming in at No. 121 in May. Kuhar would go on to defeat two ranked opponents in the Oracle ITA Masters in September and moved up to No. 81 nationally in November.
Garlacy and Kuhar will be recognized on Sunday, March 10 at the Cranston Country Club.