NEW YORK — The Skyline Conference announced its All-Conference women's volleyball selections on Tuesday afternoon and St. Joseph's University, N.Y.–Brooklyn was represented by Taylor Knight (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) on the First Team and Martina Urgo (Astoria, N.Y./St. John's Prep) on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
In her first season at Clinton Hill, Knight led the navy-and-gray with 359 kills and ranked second on the team with 267 digs. The junior also topped Division III with 14.21 attacks per set, while ranking eighth in kills per set (4.49) and points per set (5.19). Knight recorded 14 double-doubles, including a standout 31-kill, 25-dig performance in a five-set win over Purchase. She matched that kills total in the following match against Farmingdale State, falling just one dig short of her season-high. Knight also contributed eight aces in a tri-match against York at Albertus Magnus.
This marks the program's first All-Conference recognition since Cristina Morales was named to the Second Team in 2018. Knight is also the first First-Team selection since Lauren GaNun in 2015, the Bears' inaugural season in the Skyline Conference.
Urgo received her second career All-Sportsmanship honor, her first since 2022. The senior played a pivotal role in St. Joseph's leading Division III with 3.66 service aces per set, posting 0.85 aces per set and finishing the season with 70 total aces. These stats not only led the conference but also ranked her third and 12th in the nation, respectively. Urgo ended the regular season with three consecutive double-doubles, bringing her season total to nine, including career-highs of 21 kills against Pratt and 31 digs against Farmingdale State.
Her 12 service aces in a match against York helped the Bears set a new program record with 35 aces in a single match, breaking a 17-year-old record.
St. Joseph's finished the season with a 12-11 overall record, marking their first winning season since 2018. The Bears' seventh-place finish in the conference was also their best since a sixth-place finish in the same season.
The All-Conference teams and Player, Rookie, and Coach of the Year awards are voted on by the Skyline Conference's 12 head women's volleyball coaches based on regular-season play ahead of the 2024 Skyline Conference Championships. The conference recognizes All-Sportsmanship Team members in all 19 of its championship sports, with each program announcing one recipient for his or her sportsmanlike demeanor – both in and out of competition.
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2024 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball All-Conference Team
First Team
Grace Ballagas, Sr., L - Manhattanville
Loren Hernandez, Jr., OH - Manhattanville
Athena Kazos, Jr., OH - Sarah Lawrence
Taylor Knight, Jr., OH - St. Joseph's-Brooklyn
Mikayla Profeta, Sr., MB - Farmingdale State
Ayla Ruiz, Sr., OH - Manhattanville
Samantha Russo, Fr., OH - Farmingdale State
Jonaiya Williams, Jr., OH - Mount Saint Mary
Jackie Wolf, Sr., OH - St. Joseph's-Long Island
Second Team
Sydney Douglas, Fr., OH - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Stephanie Maser, Jr., OH - Old Westbury
Sofia Morales, Gr., MB/RS - Manhattanville
Sarah Rende, So., S - Farmingdale State
Stephanie Schatzman, Jr., L - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Julianna Simone, Fr., OH - Mount Saint Mary
Nina Vanderhoof, So., MH - St. Joseph's-Long Island
Nikolet Vataj, Fr., OH - Sarah Lawrence
Player of the Year: Loren Hernandez, Manhattanville
Libero of the Year: Grace Ballagas, Manhattanville
Rookie of the Year: Nikolet Vataj, Sarah Lawrence
Coach of the Year: John Carroll, Sarah Lawrence (2nd Season)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Lana Ventura, Farmingdale State
Rubi Gorospe, Manhattanville
Mikaela Thiel, Maritime
Virginia Robert, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Ava Robles, Mount Saint Mary
Jessica Broderick, Mount Saint Vincent
Amy Sanchez, Old Westbury
Helena Carroll, Purchase
Maddy Heavens, Sarah Lawrence
Martina Urgo, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn
Luciana D'Ambrosio, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Ashley Botnick, Yeshiva
