BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball's Talia Lombardo capped off her collegiate career with all-conference accolades as the senior setter was named to the All-GNAC Third-Team, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.
Lombardo had a record-setting career in her time in blue-and-gold and put an exclamation point on things in 2018 as the first-ever player to serve over 200 aces in their career, while joining the elite with over 1,000 assists to her credit. The Windham, New Hampshire product appears on four of the Rams' all-time lists including the top of the aces annals with 231 to her credit. She sits third in digs (918), fourth in assists (1,115) and sixth in kills (530).
This season, while transitioning roles and taking on Suffolk's setting responsibilities, she handed out 681 assists, which sits on top of the Rams' season list. Her 8.01 assist per set ranked third in the league and set-up Suffolk's 9.67 kill per set attack. Lombardo was also the main threat at the service line once again for Suffolk, serving 52 aces for 0.61 aces per set.
Bridget Allison represented the Rams' on the league's all-sportsmanship team, which was established to honor one player from each team in the conference for outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and positive attitude.
As consistent contributors since their freshmen campaign, Allison and Lombardo saved the best for last leading Suffolk to its first-ever GNAC Semifinal appearance behind the Rams' first win in the quarterfinals, which dueled as the program's first-win over Lasell, a sweep Oct. 30. Their Cinderella story came to an end in straight sets in the semis against national powerhouse No. 2 Johnson & Wales.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Scott Blanchard Suffolk put together the most conference wins (7-5) since tallying eight league triumphs in 2005.
Since joining the GNAC in 1996, Suffolk has garnered 18 GNAC accolades including four first-team selections, four second-team nods and 10 third-team honors.
2018 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-GNAC
FIRST TEAM
Maria Coniglio, Johnson & Wales
Brylee Frank, Johnson & Wales
Katie Leidhold, Johnson & Wales
Elyssa Nicolas, Johnson & Wales
Kate Walker, Johnson & Wales
Taylor Dunster, Rivier
Hayley Macken, Rivier
SECOND TEAM
Courtney Murray, Colby Sawyer
Olivia Addington, Lasell
Kiana Perez, Lasell
Katyrna Veasey, Regis
Sydney Racevicius, Rivier
Jennelle Thompson, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Amanda Fortune, Simmons
THIRD TEAM
Naarah Cox, Colby Sawyer
Morgan Flynn, Colby Sawyer
Mary Shelow, Emmanuel
Hannah Dolan, Johnson & Wales
Courtney Collins, Rivier
Faith Gray-Williams, Simmons
Talia Lombardo, Suffolk
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Brylee Frank, Johnson & Wales|
LIBERO OF THE YEAR – Elyssa Nicolas, Johnson & Wales
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Kiana Perez, Lasell
COACH OF THE YEARH – Nancy Somera, Johnson & Wales
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Saint Joseph (Conn.)
ALL-SPORTMANSHIP TEAM
Jaiden Williams, Albertus Magnus
Aby Chapdelaine, Anna Maria
Nicole Olivieri, Colby Sawyer
Selina Brito, Emmanuel
Monica Cordova, Johnson & Wales
Allie Jo Amos, Lasell
Emily Oliver, Norwich
Erika Andreoli, Regis
Taylor White, Rivier
Nina Nevarez, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Madison Provencher, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Julia Fusco, Simmons
Bridget Allison, Suffolk