For the sixth time in his 17 year career, State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball coach Matt Giufre has been named State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Along with his Coach of the Year nod, which was 
announced by the conference office Tuesday, five others were named to the All-SUNYAC team including Taylor Cimillo and Meredith Dignan earning first team nods, Madison Van Pelt on the second team, and Nicole Fellone and Kerri Neville making the third team.
The 2018 season represented one of Giufre's best years in his New Paltz career. A 24-8 regular season where the Hawks went 8-1 in SUNYAC play, led to a dominant SUNYAC Tournament in which the Hawks dropped just one set. On Nov. 3, they staved off a late rally by top-seeded SUNY Geneseo to sweep the final game in three sets, bringing home the program's third SUNYAC championship, all coming under Giufre.
SUNY New Paltz's season continues on Friday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament, as the Hawks will take on the Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall College, with the hope to win their first national title in team history.
To see the full SUNYAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference list, click here.
Taylor Cimillo (First-Team All-SUNYAC)
Senior
Taylor Cimillo made the most out of her final season at SUNY New Paltz, earning a spot on the All-SUNYAC First Team. Cimillo finished the year with 283 kills, 293 digs, and 40 service aces, all three were good enough for second highest on the Hawks. In a year where the Suffern graduate ended with double-digit kills in 12 matches, she may have been at her best Sept. 8 against Hamilton, totaling 19 kills in the Hawks five-set win.
Meredith Dignan (First-Team All-SUNYAC)
Senior setter
Meredith Dignan ended her SUNY New Paltz career with a bang, earning a spot on the All-SUNYAC First Team. The Millbrook graduate finished with 1,063 assists in 109 sets, leading the Hawks by a wide margin. In addition to her astounding number of assists, Dignan also put together 279 digs, third on the Hawks. In a year that Dignan played so well, one match stood out more than any other. In the Hawks' five-set win against Hamilton Sept. 8, Dignan totaled a career-high 56 assists.
Madison Van Pelt (Second-Team All-SUNYAC)
Madison Van Pelt's strong season earned her a role on the All-SUNYAC Second Team. The Junior led the Hawks with 325 kills in 107 sets. She also finished with 173 digs and 22 blocks. Twenty-one different times this season Van Pelt ended a match with double-digit kills, including two different 20-kill matches. One of these matches came Sept. 8 against Hamilton, when the Valley Central graduate totaled 21 kills in the Hawks' five-set win. One week later on Sept. 15 against Mt. Aloysius, Van Pelt had 20 kills in just three sets.
Nicole Fellone (Third-Team All-SUNYAC)
Junior
Nicole Fellone had a breakout season in 2018, earning her way on to the All-SUNYAC Third Team. Fellone led the Hawks with 448 digs and put together at least 20 digs seven times over the course of the season, including Sept. 8 against Hamilton. Fellone totaled a career-high 34 digs, playing a large part in the Hawks' five-set win. Fellone was also a two-time SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Kerri Neville (Third-Team All-SUNYAC)
Junior
Kerri Neville put together a good season on both sides of the net, earning a spot on the All-SUNYAC Third Team. Neville once again led the Hawks in blocks, totaling 68 over the course of the season. Neville finished the year with 237 kills in 105 sets. Out of all of her performances this season her Oct. 13 match against Morrisville State stands out. In the Hawks' four-set win, Neville put up a season-high 15 kills, as well as a team-high four blocks.
