Pezzola, Montemurro Receive All-Centennial Honors; Chwastyk Named Coach of the Year
LANCASTER, Pa. - The Swarthmore College volleyball team had two student-athletes named to the All-Centennial team - sophomore Genny Pezzola and freshman Kat Montemurro - while head coach Harleigh Chwastyk was named the Coach of the Year, the conference announced Thursday. Pezzola was named to the first team - marking the first time in program history that a member of the Swarthmore College volleyball team has received first-team honors - while Montemurro earned second-team honors. This is Chwastyk's first Coach of the Year honor in her eight-year coaching career at Swarthmore.
Pezzola (Oakland, Calif./St. Mary's College) earned first-team honors after compiling one of the best statistical seasons in Swarthmore volleyball history. For the 2009 season, she led the team season with 404 kills - a new program record - 440 digs, 3.88 kills per set, and 4.23 digs per set. A two-time Centennial Conference Performer of the Week winner (September 15, October 6), Pezzola also led the Centennial in kills and points for the season. Pezzola's other season honors include MVP of the Garnet Classic and All-Tournament team at the Moravian Greyhound Premier.
Montemurro (Bogota, N.J./Bergen County) received second-team honors after an outstanding freshman season. Montemurro led the Garnet in hitting percentage (2.78) and blocks (31), while finishing second in kills (280) and kills per set (2.64). She also ranks in the Top 10 in the Centennial Conference in hitting percentage. Montemurro's other season honors include All-Tournament selections at the Garnet Classic and Moravian Greyhound Premier.
Chwastyk guided the Garnet (19-11, 6-4) to one of its best seasons in program history and her best record since joining Swarthmore. Chwastyk led the Garnet to a year of firsts, celebrating its first Centennial Conference playoff victory, its first ECAC tournament bid and first player to be named to the first-team All-Centennial team. Swarthmore also took home a championship at the Garnet Classic and placed second in the Greyhound Premier. Swarthmore's 19 win season also marks the best season the program has had since joining the Centennial Conference in 1992.