SCOCCA NAMED ALL-INDEPENDENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR, GARDNER NAMED TO SECOND TEAM

December 02, 2009

SCOCCA NAMED ALL-INDEPENDENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gardner named a Second Team All-Independent selection; quartet named all-academic selections

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After leading the Division I Independent ranks in blocks and finishing second in kills during the 2009 season, Bryant University sophomore Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) was named the 2009 NCAA Division I All-Independent Player of the Year, as announced Tuesday afternoon.

Joining Scocca in earning All-Independent honors was junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.), who was also recognized for her 2009 achievements with a second team selection. The pair was also among four Bulldogs honored as all-academic honorees.

Scocca's 153 blocks paced the Bulldogs as well as all Independent players and is good for No. 6 in the Bryant single-season record books. But the Massachusetts native led the Bryant side in more than just blocks, posting team bests in kills (406), kills per game (3.22), blocks per game (1.21), aces (38) and points (529.0). Many of those numbers also sat in the top-10 for all-Independent rankings, including kills (2nd), blocks per game (1st), kills per game (3rd), hitting percentage (3rd, .277) and aces (5th).

The sophomore posted 23 double-digit kill matches and earned a pair of All-Independent Player of the Week and one Defensive Player of the Week honors en route to her First Team and Player of the Year selections. She was also named to the Northeast Conference Second Team.

"The whole Bryant University community is extremely proud of Maria's accomplishments this year," said head coach Theresa Garlacy. "It is a direct result of her hard work and her team's efforts to get her the ball."

Gardner joins the All-Independent Second Team after finishing the season second among Independent players in both digs (513) and digs per game (4.07). The junior libero led the Bryant side on defense, proving she was a stellar server as well with a .926 serve percentage and 28 aces.

Gardner posted a .910 reception percentage with just 83 errors in 922 attempts, while her 513 digs on the year tied her for 16th in single-season Bulldog history. The junior also set herself at the top of the record books with her 33-dig performance against Coppin State, good for No. 2 in digs in a three-set match. She posted 25 double-digit dig matches throughout the 2009 season and twice recorded 30 or more digs in a contest.

"Robyn is a hard-nosed, intense player," said Garlacy. "I am grateful she has finally been recognized by the volleyball community."

The pair join senior captain Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and sophomore hitter Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) on the all-academic team, and Bryant led the way with its four academic accolades.

"Our volleyball program prides itself on high standards - both on and off the court," said Garlacy.

The Bulldogs become full members of the Northeast Conference and are eligible for postseason play in 2012 at the conclusion of a four-year transition period to full Division I membership.