Lancaster, Pa. – (11/8/2022) – With fall sports champions crowned, Commissioner Jessica Huntley has officially released the first in a series of all-conference announcements with the reveal of the 2022 All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Volleyball Team and Major Award winners. For the second straight year, AEC Player of the Year honors went to Cabrini University graduate outside hitter Hannah Dalton (Abington, Pa.) and the AEC Specialist Player of the Year honors were garnered by her teammate, graduate libero Gina Custer (King of Prussia, Pa.). The Cavalier duo was joined as major award winners by Neumann University freshman defensive specialist Claudia Bournazel (Downingtown, Pa.) – who was named AEC Rookie of the Year – and the Centenary University (NJ) coaching staff. Gwynedd Mercy University offered a pair of All-AEC Second Team performers in junior middle hitter Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) and junior outside hitter Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.).
 
Dalton captured her second AEC Player of the Year title with AEC Top-10 finishes in points (1^st, 515.5), kills (1^st, 453), hitting percentage (T2^nd, .270), and solo blocks (7^th, 12). She also ranked 11^th in digs (290) and 12^th in aces (39). Meanwhile, Custer racked up a league-high 606 digs en route to defending her AEC Specialist of the Year title. Bournazel finished the season seventh in aces (48) and sixth in digs (393) to capture the league's Rookie of the Year honors. Centenary University's coaching staff – comprised of Head Coach Lee Clowers and Assistant Coach Braulio Rivera – led the Cyclones to a 10-14 overall mark and a 2-4 conference finish.
 
This is the second straight All-AEC laurel for both Brown and Purnell; the former was named the 2021 AEC Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Year and garnered All-AEC First Team honor a year ago, while the latter enjoys back-to-back All-AEC Second Team recognition. Brown and Purnell both ranked in the AEC Top-10 for points and kills as the duo combined to spot 552 points on the attack and 617.5 points total. Brown scored her 284 points (8^th) on 245 kills (8^th), nine aces, and 46 total blocks (14 solo (6^th), 32 assisted (7^th)). She also offered 15 assists and 71 digs. Meanwhile, Purnell scored her 333.5 points (4^th) with 307 kills (4^th), 16 aces, and 20 total blocks (1 solo, 19 assisted). Purnell also set Gwynedd Mercy University's four-set kills record with 29 in the Griffins' 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-22) victory over Centenary University (Oct. 1) and was named to the AEC Women's Volleyball Weekly Honor Roll on October 10 thanks to 38.5 points (32 kills, 5 aces, block solo, block assist), 30 digs, and a pair of assists in wins over Rutgers University – Newark (W, 3-1; 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20 on Oct. 6) and league rival Immaculata University (W, 3-1; 26-24, 23-25, 29-27, 25-13).
 
The complete 2022 All-AEC Women's Volleyball Team and Major Award winners are listed below and available using the provided links.
   
All-AEC First Team:
Gina Custer, Cabrini University
Hannah Dalton, Cabrini University
Sam Heenan, Cabrini University
Regan Hickey, Neumann University
Myia Jeter, Marymount University
Elissa Munsterman, Marymount University
Dani Smith, Neumann University
 
All-AEC Second Team:
Mya Bowers, Marymount University
Ashley Brown, Gwynedd Mercy University
Mya Burnett, Centenary University
Shannon Corr, Marywood University
Alexis Franklin, Marymount University
Maya Harris, Marymount University
Bria Purnell, Gwynedd Mercy University