(Canton, N.Y.)- First-year head coach Mary Helak has been named the Sunrise Conference Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year. Juniors Alicia Abbey (Mayville, N.Y.) and Val Bova (Central Square, N.Y.) were both named to the all-conference team.

Helak guided the Roos to the Sunrise Conference and Region X championships and a berth in the 2007 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship. SUNY Canton is 16-7 overall and finished undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 mark.

Abby and Bova were the top two hitters on the team this year. Abbey led the team in kills (3.1), service aces (1.0) and digs (1.7). Bova averaged 2.7 kills, 1.4 digs and 0.8 aces per game.

Amber Reed of the University of Maine at Machias was named the conference Player of the Year. Amber Garrison of the University of Maine at Fort Kent was named the Rookie of the Year and Fort Kent received the Sportsmanship Award.

The Roos open pool play of the national tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 28 against top-ranked Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) at 9 a.m. SUNY Canton also plays Northwestern College (Iowa) on Wednesday at 5:45 and Westminster College (Utah) on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 11:15. Columbia College in Missouri is hosting this year's tournament.

2007 Sunrise Conference Volleyball Awards

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