SALEM, Mass. -- Morgan Adams (Scotia, N.Y.), Samantha Chaisson (Duxbury, Mass.) and Brynn O'Neill (Danvers, Mass.) were all named to the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Volleyball Second-Team in an announcement by the league on Wednesday. Additionally, second-year head coach Karen McNulty earned Champion's Choice Co-Coach of the Year with Bernie Chase of Worcester State after leading the Vikings to a 14-11 record and second place league finish.
Adams was fourth in the conference in assists with 151 while recording a 6.57 assists per set average. Adams also finished third in the conference with 43 service aces. Chaisson was eighth in the league in digs (300) and fourth in digs per set (4.29) while newcomer O'Neill was third on the Vikings in kills (130), fourth in service aces (21) and fifth in digs (103).
McNulty led Salem State to its best record in 16 seasons as Salem State finished with 14 wins, including a 5-2 conference mark, which was the team's best standing since 2002 and a second place finish in the MASCAC. The Vikings' 25 wins over the past two seasons are the most since the team won a combined 34 during the 2001 & 2002 seasons.
For the second straight year, Amari King of Worcester State earned the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year. King, a senior outside hitter from Lawrence, Mass., led the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 mark without losing a set during conference play and back-to-back regular season titles. She was in the top five of the MASCAC in several stat categories, including total kills (312), kills per set (3.15), hitting percentage (.283), service aces (42) and total digs (339). She also had 30 total blocks and 13 assists.
In her first season with Framingham State, outside hitter Brandee Thomas was named the 2018 MASCAC Rookie of the Year. The freshman from N. Kingstown, R.I. ended the season atop the conference in kills with 358 and kills per set with 3.25. She also had a .212 hitting percentage with 74 digs and 16 total blocks. During the regular season, she was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week eight consecutive times. Her best match was against St. Joseph's (Maine) where she tallied 22 kills with a .429 hitting percentage and four digs.
Joining King and Thomas on the All-Conference First Team are Mackenzie Whalen of Framingham State, Jess Haradon and Brianna Starkey of Westfield State and Emily Carens and Megan Leavens of Worcester State.
Earning a spot on the MASCAC Second Team All-Conference are Kayla Baril of Bridgewater State, Alyssa Cafarelli of Framingham State, Adams, Chaisson and O'Neill of Salem State and Stephanie Chapin and Allie Nolan of Worcester State.
