Lake Buena Vista, FL (Nov. 16, 2022) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2022 Volleyball All-MAAC Teams and Major Award winners. All Awards were voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches.
The 2022 MAAC Volleyball Player of the Year is KJ Johnson of Fairfield University. This is Johnson’s second consecutive year winning this award. Johnson’s stellar play this year led Fairfield to a 17-1 MAAC record, giving them the MAAC Regular Season title. Statistically, Johnson, ranked at the top of the conference in multiple categories. Johnson finished third in the conference in points (398.5), third in kills per set (3.63), sixth in hitting percentage (.278), and ninth in blocks (0.81).
The 2022 MAAC Libero of the Year is Hope Matschner from Iona University. During the regular season, Matschner, was a nine-time Libero of the Week honoree. On the season Matschner led the MAAC with 727 digs and digs per game (7.06).
Ella Bourque from Canisius College earns this year’s Setter of the Year award and is the 2022 MAAC Volleyball Rookie of the Year. The freshman from Yorkville, Illinois led the MAAC in assists compiling 887 on the season good for an average of 10.08 per game. During the regular season, Bourque, took home Rookie of the Week honors nine different times.
For the second consecutive year, the MAAC Volleyball Coach of the year is Todd Kress from Fairfield University. Kress, the all-time winningest coach in program history becomes a nine-time MAAC Coach of the Year recipient. The Stags were the MAAC Volleyball Regular Season champions this year after going 17-1 in conference play. The Stags are currently amid a 10-game win streak that began October 15.
For the full list of awards, including the All-MAAC teams, please see below.
| 2022 MAAC Volleyball Major Awards |
| Award |
Player |
School |
| Player of the Year |
KJ Johnson |
Fairfield |
| Libero of the Year |
Hope Matschner |
Iona |
| Setter of the Year |
Ella Bourque |
Canisius |
| Rookie of the Year |
Ella Bourque |
Canisius |
| Coach of the Year |
Todd Kress |
Fairfield |
| 2022 All-MAAC Volleyball First Team |
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
| KJ Johnson |
Fairfield |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Sasha van der Merwe |
Marist |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Aryanah Diaz |
Quinnipiac |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Gabrielle Heller |
Marist |
Gr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Hope Matschner |
Iona |
Jr. |
Libero |
| Morgan Romano |
Rider |
Sr. |
Opposite |
| Ella Gardiner |
Fairfield |
Jr. |
Middle Blocker |
| |
| 2022 All-MAAC Volleyball Second Team |
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
| Ella Bourque |
Canisius |
Fr. |
Setter |
| Ella Loussia |
Canisius |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Jordan Newblatt |
Marist |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Nicole Legg |
Quinnipiac |
Gr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Jen Soto |
Iona |
Jr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Sara Wagner |
Siena |
So. |
Outside Hitter |
| Emily Wunder |
Siena |
Gr. |
Right Side |
| |
| 2022 All-MAAC Volleyball Rookie Team |
| Player |
School |
Class |
Position |
| Ella Bourque |
Canisius |
Fr. |
Setter |
| Maya Walker |
Fairfield |
Fr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Allie Elliott |
Fairfield |
Fr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Mackenzie Wiggins |
Iona |
R-Fr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Carley McAleavey |
Rider |
Fr. |
Middle Hitter |
| Damla Gunes |
Quinnipiac |
FY. |
Setter |
| Kinga Wronska |
Niagara |
Fr. |
Outside Hitter |
The 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship takes place from November 16 through 19 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The 10-team, single-elimination championship will feature four rounds of action with the opening round taking place on Wednesday, November 16, followed by the quarterfinals on Thursday, November 17, the semifinals on Friday, November 18, and concluding with the championship match on Saturday, November 19. For all information regarding the 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/vb.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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