Posted: Nov 04, 2015

Three Seahawks placed on All-CCC squad

Samantha Higgins, Emily Lipinski, and Morgan VanderBaan were selected to the All-CCC team

NEWPORT, R.I. - Three members of the Salve Regina University women's volleyball team have received end-of-season accolades from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

Samantha Higgins (Coventry, R.I.) was named a first team middle blocker while Emily Lipinski (Hampden, Mass.) and Morgan VanderBaan (Douglas, Mass.) garnered third team honors.

Higgins finished 2015 with 216 and 66 blocks, ranking her third in that category in the CCC.

"Sam worked very hard to get to where she is right now and as just a sophomore she has two more years to grow even more as a player," said head coach Lauren Parsons. "She has set the bar for her goals and I know it's going to fuel her to keep working hard."

Lipinski totaled 183 kills and 55 blocks for a .259 kill percentage, ranking fourth in conference, and just ahead of Higgins who came in at fifth with a .247 kill percentage.

"Emily has been a solid player for us and I'm happy that the conference has noticed that once again in her," Parsons said. "Her presence on the court is definitely noticed and she has worked hard to be able to hit the ball harder and block much stronger."

After only appearing in 10 sets in 2014, VanderBaan appeared in all but one match for the Seahawks this season. She was second on the team with 243 digs.

"Morgan is not afraid to sacrifice her body to get a ball up," Parsons said. "She has really mastered being a defensive specialist for us and with her to also be a sophomore she has two more years to be a dominant back row player for us. It's great that the conference has noticed a defensive specialist and the hard work they put in to keep the ball alive."