NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 10, 2010)  -   Titilola Alao of Caldwell College has been selected the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Volleyball Player of the Year, as the 2010 All-Conference team has been released. Philadelphia University freshman outside hitter Leanna Lillge was named Rookie of the Year, while Caldwell’s Megan Hrbek was voted Coach of the Year. Nyack College was given the annual Team Sportsmanship Award for the seventh straight season.

Alao, a junior middle blocker from Ossining, N.Y., is the first Cougar to claim Player of the Year honors for volleyball. Alao has had an outstanding season, leading the CACC in hitting percentage (.315) while ranking among the conference leaders in kills (2.89) and blocks (0.77) per set. This season she has recorded 10 or more kills in 12 matches, including a season-high 18-kill performance in a five-set win at The College of Saint Rose. A dominating presence at the net, Alao registered seven total blocks against Post University on Sept. 28 and had six blocks against Philadelphia on Oct. 16. In a 3-1 victory at Wilmington on Oct. 30 that clinched the Cougars' third straight CACC North title, she tallied 15 kills and three solo blocks while hitting .393. A two-time CACC Player of the Week this season, Alao earned honorable mention All-CACC as a freshman and made the second team in 2009.

Lillge, who hails from Ixonia, Wisc., has registered an outstanding rookie season and led the Lady Rams to the South Division co-Regular-Season Championship with Holy Family University. Both went 16-3 in conference play. Lillge, who was also a second team All-CACC pick, enters postseason play ranked third in the CACC with 3.32 kills and 0.50 service aces per-set, while also ranking ninth with 3.92 digs per-set. Lillge has sparked the Lady Rams to their third straight CACC Tournament semi-final appearance. The squad fell in the championship to Georgian Court University the last two seasons.  

Hrbek has built the Cougar volleyball program from the ground up in just five short years. Following two losing seasons that saw the Cougars go 4-41, Hrbek's squad has turned in a 61-30 record over the past three seasons and has captured three consecutive CACC North Division titles. This year's team is currently 22-7, including a 17-2 mark in conference play, setting school records for most overall victories, fewest losses and most CACC wins in a season. The CACC Coach of the Year in 2008, Hrbek has an overall record of 65-71 at Caldwell.            

The All-Conference team is listed below.

Honorable Mention: Maddy Amon, So., L, Caldwell; Michelle Fiorvanti, So., OH, Dominican; Christine Puschak, Sr., M, USciences

Player of the Year: Titilola Alao, Jr., MB, Caldwell
Rookie of the Year: Leanna Lillge, Fr., OH, Philadelpia
Coach of the Year: Megan Hrbek, Caldwell
Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack College