MIAMI, Fla. (November 11, 2021) – The Sun Conference announced on Thursday its award winners for the 2021 volleyball season.
 
Southeastern outside hitter Sandy Cao was named the Sun Conference Player of the Year and Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. A First-Team All-Sun Conference selection in 2021, Cao was a four-time Sun Conference Attacker of the Week in her first season with the Fire. The native of Clearwater, Florida, led the league in kills, averaging 4.76 in SUN play. She posted a .272 hitting percentage in 14 conference matches, helping the Fire claim the No. 4 seed in the Sun Conference Tournament. She racked up 16 double-doubles this past year.
 
For the second straight season, Ave Maria sophomore Lily Witkoski was named the Sun Conference Setter of the Year. A four-time Sun Conference Setter of the Week in 2021, Witkoski was a first-team all-conference selection this year (the second all-conference honor of her career). The Rochester, New York native averaged 10.00 assists per set in league action, helping the Gyrenes to a No. 2 seed in this year’s SUN Tournament. She totaled 892 assists during the 2021 season averaging 9.91 assists per set in 26 matches this season.
 
St. Thomas freshman Bianca Grassi was named the Sun Conference Libero of the Year. A seven-time Sun Conference Defender of the Week, Grassi was named a First-Team All-Sun Conference honoree in 2021. The native of Livorno, Italy, led the conference in digs (5.36 digs per set in league action). She posted 528 digs during her first year at STU, averaging 5.44 digs per set in 27 total matches (No. 25 in the nation).
 
St. Thomas Head Coach Whitney Battoe was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Battoe guided the Bobcats to a 12-2 mark in Sun Conference play and the league’s regular season title (the first at STU since 2017). In her second year with the Bobcats, Battoe led STU to a 21-6 overall record, including a 10-2 mark at home.
 
Southeastern setter/defensive specialist Angelina Vaccaro was named the Sun Conference Champion of Character. Vaccaro is strongly involved in her home church including teaching Sunday school and serving in the office. She has been highly active in domestic and international missions serving in New Mexico and Ecuador. Vaccaro volunteers with FCA Summer Camps and was a huddle leader at her high schools FCA outreach. She has been involved in outreach programs such as collecting shoes for children in need and sending supplies to other countries after natural disasters. Angelina is the historian for HoSA (Health Occupation Students of America) and has done multiple outreach programs despite the global pandemic with local assisted living facilities. She has continued to give of her time while at SEU including being involved with Faith in Fire, an athletics Christian ministry, and is also involved in SCAMDA which is a club for students who have interest in a future in health sciences and dentistry.
 
2021 Sun Conference Volleyball Award Winners
 
Player of the Year 
Sandy Cao (FR), OH, Southeastern  
 
Setter of the Year 
Lily Witkoski (SO), S, Ave Maria  
 
Libero of the Year 
Bianca Grassi (FR) L/DS, St. Thomas
 
Freshman of the Year 
Sandy Cao, OH, Southeastern  
 
Coach of the Year 
Whitney Battoe, St. Thomas
 
Champion of Character 
Angelina Vaccaro (FR), S/RS, Southeastern 
 
On Wednesday, the 2021 All-Sun Conference Teams were announced. Below are this year’s honorees.
 
2021 Sun Conference Volleyball All-Conference
 
First Team*

Cabriella Bouterse, SR, OH	Ave Maria
Abigail Costlow, FR, MB	Ave Maria
Madelyn Haut, JR, MB	Ave Maria
Lily Witkoski, JR, S	Ave Maria
Giovana Larregui Lopez, JR, OH	Coastal Georgia
Kimberlie Correa, JR, MB	Florida Memorial
Biancaliz Cruz, JR, OH	Florida Memorial
Keisha Santana Roldan, SR, L/DS	Florida Memorial
Cassie Cox, SO, MB	Keiser
Brooklyn VandeHei, JR, S	Keiser
Sandy Cao, FR, OH	Southeastern
Alexandra Postlethwaite, FR, S	Southeastern
Amanda Allende, JR, OH	St. Thomas
Tyran Chenault, SR, MB	St. Thomas
Bianca Grassi, FR, L/DS	St. Thomas

*-tie in voting

Second Team

Rita Campos, FR, OH	Ave Maria
Victoria Schein, JR, L/DS	Ave Maria
Samantha Johnston, JR, OH/RS	Coastal Georgia
Sammyra Albarran, GS, RS/OH	Florida Memorial
Holly Kaczmarek, FR, DS	Southeastern
Kyleigh Beecham, SO, S	St. Thomas
Bailey Sikkema, JR, RS	Webber International

ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now entering its 32nd year, The Sun Conference, a 501c3 organization, continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under the guidance of Commissioner Dustin Wilke, the league sponsors championships in 19 NAIA sports: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Flag Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field and Women’s Volleyball. Learn more @thesunconference.com