Cergol Named America East Setter of the Year; Wright, James Named All-Conference

BOSTON, Mass.- Seniors Mia Cergol, Alysa Wright, and Riley James have been honored with postseason awards from the America East. Cergol received the most significant hardware, being named the conference's Setter of the Year. She and Wright were both named All-America East first team, James was named to the second team, and all three earned All-Academic honors.

Cergol is the first Bulldog to win a major conference award since Kirstyn Sperry was named NEC Setter of the Year in 2017. She has averaged 7.27 assists per set overall, including 10.4 per set in conference, running a Bryant offense that leads the league in total kills and ranks second in kills per set. She has registered 30+ assists ten times this season, 40+ assists four times, and 50+ assists twice. Those numbers bolstered an already impressive career total, as she now ranks fourth in program history with 2,661 assists.

A two-time America East Setter of the Week, Cergol has also been a force defensively, contributing 2.27 digs per set to a Bulldog team that leads the conference in that category. Her combination of setting and defense has led to a team-high 11 double-doubles in 30 matches. 

Wright has been one of the best all-around players in the league, ranking in the top ten in kills, blocks, hitting percentage, aces, and total points. She was named AE Player of the Week twice, with her second honor coming on the strength of an 18-kill, eight-block, .607 hitting performance on October 23 at UAlbany.

She's also set numerous career-highs this season, with her 243 kills, .316 attack percentage, and 31 aces all her best during her time in Smithfield. She has also posted 105 career blocks, making her the only player in Division I with 200 kills, 100 blocks, and 30 aces at the end of the regular season.

James has once again been strong on both sides of the ball, racking up over 200 kills and 200 digs for the third time in three full seasons. She is also the team leader and ranks seventh in the America East in aces with 33 overall and 0.31 per set. James has posted double-digit kills nine times this year and has served multiple aces ten times, including a season-best seven on November 11 vs. UMBC.

Cergol, Wright, and James' All-Academic selections gave the Bulldogs a league-best three players on the All-Academic team. All three have GPAs of 3.60 or above for their careers, with James leading the way at 3.90 as an Actuarial Mathematics major.