Seahawks land 61 on Fall Academic All-CCC

NEWPORT, R.I. – Salve Regina University has landed 61 student-athletes on the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) 2015 Fall Academic All-Conference Team, announced Friday, January 22, by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.

The Seahawk total is eight more than it produced last year and second-most in the conference, behind only University of New England (66).

The Academic All-Conference Team consists of any starter or significant reserve who has attained at least sophomore status and has maintained an overall minimum GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00. This is the third time the honor has been separated into two seasons - fall and spring. In total, 447 student-athletes representing all 10 member institutions were selected for the Fall Academic All-Conference Team.

Of note are the seven seniors who were recognized as the Senior Scholar-Athletes in their respective sports during All-Conference voting. They are women's volleyball player Alexandra VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) and cross country runner Holly Rigoli (Waltham, Mass.) from Endicott, women's tennis player Tawnie Yeaw (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) and field hockey player Collette Newcombe (Rowley, Mass.) from Gordon, women's soccer player Haley Carignan (Scarborough, Maine) from Roger Williams, men's soccer player Joseph Pate (Smithfield, R.I.) from Salve Regina, and cross country runner CJ Vallie (Nashua, N.H.) from University of New England.

Additionally, a number of this year's Academic All-Conference honorees also excelled athletically. The team consists of 81 student-athletes who were also honored as All-CCC selections in their respective sports. Among the group are 36 First Team, 34 Second Team, and 11 Third Team All-CCC selections.

Also listed are Player of the Year honorees in five of the seven CCC fall sports. Included in that group are cross country Runners of the Year Damon Kilgore (Londonderry, H.H.) from Gordon and Tiana Thomas (Waterville, Maine) from UNE, field hockey Offensive Player of the Year Abigail Tepper (Foxboro, Mass.) from Salve Regina and Defensive Player of the Year Ashleigh Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.) from Endicott, men's soccer Defensive Player of the Year Carter Ocko (Danvers, Mass.) from Endicott, and women's volleyball Libero of the Year Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) from Gordon.

Please click here for a complete list of the entire 2015 Fall CCC All-Academic Team.

Please note the following representations for all sports:
! – First Team All-CCC
@ - Second Team All-CCC
% - Third Team All-CCC
* - Player of the Year
$ - Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year (for respective sport)
# - Highest grade point average on Seahawk squad

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (6)
Jay Brennan, Jr., Nursing, North Haven, Conn.
Scott Brewer, So., Healthcare Administration, Wilbraham, Mass.
Kevin Onofreo, Jr., Education, Middlefield, Conn.
Andrew Sardelli#, So., Administration of Justice, Hope Valley, R.I.
Matthew Sinkewicz, Sr., Psychology, Colchester, Conn.
Colin Travassos, So., Psychology, Barrington, R.I.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (10)
Melissa Cappitella, Jr., Nursing, East Haddam, Conn.
Alexa Cipkas, So., Biology, Granby, Conn.
Lea Cure, Jr., Administration of Justice, Altamont, N.Y.
Hannah Lussier#, So., Global Studies, Belchertown, Mass.
Tori Maxson, Sr., Education, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Jackie Ofria, Sr., Education, Manchester, Conn.
Aubrey Palmquist, Sr., Nursing, Bristol, Conn.
Taylor Ricker, Jr., Biology, Rocky Point, N.Y.
Joelle Ross, Sr., Education, Simsbury, Conn.
Victoria Varone, Jr., Nursing, Providence, R.I.

FIELD HOCKEY (11)
Mary Cain, Sr., Marketing, Montpelier, Vt.
Alexisse Clinger, Sr., Education, Nantucket, Mass.
Marissa Gagnon@, Sr., Education, Smithfield, R.I.
Julia Grover, Sr., Education, Cotuit, Mass.
Jillian Mosca, So., Biology, Whitesboro, N.Y.
Alyssa Perkalis, So., Nursing, Long Valley, N.J.
Jessie Severino@, So., Administration of Justice, Branford, Conn.
Abigail Tepper!*#, Sr., Education, Foxboro, Mass.
Sarah Thompson, Jr., Education, Clinton, Conn.
Brooke Tolley, So., Education, Brookside, N.J.
Lindsey Venuto, So., Education, Foxboro, Mass.

MEN'S SOCCER (6)
Evan Coose, So., Accounting, Easton, Mass.
Richie Finizio%, So., Finance, Fort Lee, N.J.
Mark Marino, Sr., Finance, Smithfield, R.I.
Bryan McCormack#, So., Economics, Narragansett, R.I.
Joseph Pate!$, Sr., Accounting/ Finance, Smithfield, R.I.
Conor Woods, So., Finance, Otisville, N.Y.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (17)
Lea Adams, So., Nursing, Sandwich, Mass.
Ielish Barbati, Sr., Nursing, Marshfield, Mass.
Maggie Borowicz, Sr., Nursing, West Point, N.Y.
Courtney Bouchard, So., Healthcare, Middleton, Mass.
Emily Cuellar, So., Psychology, Providence, R.I.
Kerianne Folan, Jr., Nursing, Dorchester, Mass.
Francesca Galeazzi, So., English Communications, Lynn, Mass.
Erica Manchester, Jr., Biology, Wakefield, R.I.
Olivia Maxell, Sr., Nursing , Lincoln, R.I.
Morgan McBrier, So., Education, North Kingstown, R.I.
Raine Oesterle#, Jr., Social Work, Monroe, Conn.
Christine Pala, Jr., Nursing, Milford, Conn.
Alexis Pike, Sr., Education, Smithfield, R.I.
Raquel Pouliot, So., Nursing, Coventry, Conn.
Lindsey Sasso, Jr., Nursing, Watertown, Conn.
Anna Shultz, Sr., Education, Higganum, Conn.
Leah Siefring, So., Education, Hopedale, Mass.

WOMEN'S TENNIS (4)
Julie Grant, Sr., Marketing, Warwick, R.I.
Emma Gruber#, Jr., Global Business and Economics, New Canaan, Conn.
Cristina Marsocci, So., Biology, North Scituate, R.I.
Kasey Walther%, Sr., Nursing, Natick, Mass.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (7)
Nora Donahue, So., Biology, Braintree, Mass.
Chrissy Fraga, Sr., Nursing, Milford, Mass.
Samantha Higgins!, So., Accounting, Coventry, R.I.
Tara Kellenbarger, So., Business Administration, Encinitas, Calif.
Kat Mendes, Jr., Nursing, New Bedford, Mass.
Megan Parham#, So., Business Studies, Tulsa, Okla.
Francesca Testani, So., Nursing, Shelton, Conn.