Bethany Stosz picked up a major award for the Pride as she was recognized as the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. Junior Aylene Ilkson joined Stosz on the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team.
A local product from Amherst, Mass., Stosz had a standout freshman campaign for the Pride. Stosz ranked third on the team in kills with 316 (2.77 per game) and was tops on the team in blocks with 157. Her 97 block assists in 114 games set a school record for block assists in a season, which was previously held by Heather MacRae, who recorded 92 in 133 games in 1997. Stosz ranked first in the conference in blocks with 1.35 per game and was seventh in points with 3.81 per game. It was the first time Springfield had produced the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year since Leah Hettrick was tabbed the Rookie of the Year in 2003.
A native of Baldwin, N.Y., Ilkson had a breakout season for the Pride in her junior campaign. Ilkson led the Pride in kills with 398 (3.46 per game) and digs with 573 (4.98 per game). She ranked fourth in the conference in kills per game and digs per game, and was fifth in points per game with 4.02. Ilkson recorded multiple match-highs for the Pride this season including her 25-kill, 28-dig performance against Williams and her 30-dig, 18-kill output against Eastern Connecticut.
The Pride finished the season with a 23-10 record before falling to Wellesley in the NEWMAC Tournament semifinals.
Moira Long will enter her third season as head women's volleyball coach in the fall of 2013. Long wasted little time putting her stamp on the program, taking the Pride to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight in 2011.
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