Posted: May 31, 2020

Women's Volleyball: "Awards Show Rewind"

"Awards Show Rewind" is a Wells College Athletics 13 segment feature that reviews each 2019-20 Wells athletics team and its honorees from the May 20 Express Awards Show in reverse order from the show's countdown. Today's featured team is the 2019 women's volleyball team. Links for the entire show can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YCv2s5JgVc or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellsExpresslive

Wells College women's volleyball team's head coach Mark Lucas handed out four awards and recognized three departing players, while athletic director Mike Lindberg handed out one of the department's top awards to a member of the women's volleyball team at the Wells College Express Awards Show on Wednesday, May 20.

Jackie Allen was named the 2019-20 Wells College Female Athlete of the Year. Just prior to the award show's end, Wells College athletic director Lindberg made the presentation and said the following, "Jackie is a senior graduating summa cum laude and Phi Betta Kappa in psychology and she hails from Syracuse, N.Y. A four-year member and captain of the women's volleyball team, she finishes her career as the all-time leader in kills and is among the all-time leaders in digs and service aces. A three-time player-of-the-week and named to the NEAC all-conference team in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons."

"Coach Mark Lucas says this about Jackie, 'I consider myself incredibly lucky to have coached Jackie these past four years. While she is an incredible and gifted athlete, she is even a better person. I've never met a player as dedicated to the improvement of not only her skill set, but also of her ability to be a good leader and teammate. She's made me a better coach. She's made our program better. She's made our school a better place. And I wish her the best of luck even though I know she will undoubtedly succeed in whatever she chooses to do.' "

Coach Lucas began by acknowledging his departing players, "I'd like to thank our graduating seniors Jackie Allen and Jordan Stoops and our departing junior Natsuki Onishi for their contributions not only to this season, but to our program as a whole."

Lucas awarded rookie of the year to Mackenzie Drown. "Mackenzie stepped into a starter's role in the third match of the season and worked incredibly hard to adjust to the pace of the college game. A total goofball on the bus, Mackenzie's very serious at matches and I'm excited to see her further development as a player this upcoming fall," said Lucas.

Lucas awarded most improved player award to Gabby Rivera. "Gabby was a part-time starter in her first year, but then made huge strides in her game as a sophomore and played every match this season. Her digs-per-set were the third best in our conference and the best in program history for a single season. Her 521 digs this season also set a single-season program record. She's also very weird off the court, but also a fierce competitor once the match is underway."

Jordan Stoops received the Express Award, which goes to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment: leadership, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. Lucas added, "By having by far her best season as a senior, where she did get the only single match triple-double in program history, Jordan came incredibly far from her first year where she had to sit on the bench the entire season with a torn ACL. She is competitive, argumentative, opinionated and incredibly smart. I'm so very happy to have had the opportunity to work with her on and off the court those past four years. On a side note, if you're ever in charge of a concession stand at a football stadium and you need a top-notch assistant, you should definitely give her a call."

Lucas awarded the most valuable player award to Jackie Allen "Jackie stepped up when our roster was depleted and despite missing six matches of her own to a sprained ankle, she finished second in the conference and fifth in the nation in kills-per-set; breaking single-season program records for kills-per-set, total kills, points-per-set and total points. She also set the program career record for kills and became the first player in women's volleyball history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. She was also chosen once as the conference player-of-the-week and there's so much more I could say about her as a player and a person, but if I had one volleyball wish, it would be to get a chance to coach her for four more years," added Lucas.

Prior to Lucas announcing his team's award winners, Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Cindy Speaker announced the inaugural class of Wells College's New York State Alpha Omicron Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national organization that recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition. In order to be inducted, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4. Included in the inaugural class from the women's volleyball team was Jackie Allen and Jordan Stoops.

Preceding the Provost and Dean of the College was Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter, who recognized accomplishments and milestones of Wells athletes during the past season. Among the women's volleyball names referenced were two all-NEAC selections with Jackie Allen being named to the first team and Jazzmyne Williams named to the second team. In addition, Jackie Allen was recognized as the first player in program history to surpass both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. She also set three career records and five season records. Jordan Stoops was also recognized for surpassing 1,000 assists and setting that career record. Finally, Gabby Rivera set a season records for digs and digs-per-set.

President Gibralter also referenced 19 NEAC players of the week, two of which came from the women's volleyball team that included Jackie Allen and Maritza Scharoun.

While the live Express Awards may be remembered as the first presentation ceremony for Wells athletics cyberly, many others will remember more the inspiring closing words from Director of Athletics and Physical Education Mike Lindberg:

"2020 – it's a year none of us will ever forget. In my 40 years of serving students in higher education, I have never experienced a year quite like 2020.

Some of you who have taken my classes may remember my talk about the choices we have . . . that Stimulus doesn't have to equal Reaction. Instead, we should turn the equals sign 90 degrees, and you will find that now we have created a "pause" sign: Stimulus – Pause – Response. The pause gives power: the power to choose how we respond.

In her 152-year history, Wells College has endured fires, epidemics, world wars, economic depressions — all threatening our existence — and yet . . . we are still here.

How? The answer is: the power of choice.

As Margaret Meade wrote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

After the Main Building fire of 1888, the "new" Main was built in time for the 1890 Commencement ceremony with Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, greeting us at the front door — having survived that devastating fire.

Did you know that, during World War I, that Wells students raised over $63,000 in war bonds? They also donated more than 60,000 surgical masks, and 10 students even volunteered to go to France to work as a canteen unit.

And during the influenza epidemic of 1918, thirty-four students contracted the flu. Classes were cancelled from October 14 through November 2, and Main 4th floor and Pettibone were filled with the sick patients who were cared for and nursed back to health by our College family.

Wells was threatened, once more, by the Great Depression of 1929; but, once again, our alumnae family said "never" — and Wells enrollment and prestige soared.

Then there was World War II, the turbulent '60s, and the "utopian society" of the '90s; the enrollment decline in the early 2000s; the recession of 2008-2009; and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 are just chapters in our history. Chapters that have made us stronger because this small yet powerful group of committed citizens (you and I), who have created change so that Wells College not only survives, but thrives.

Never forget: choice is your responsibility. an action that can empower, change perspective, provide direction, motivate, influence, and inspire.

To all of our seniors: I hope you choose to regale in the memories of bus rides, practices, wins and losses, championships, and — most of all — friendships.

In short: what will be your "Do you remember…?" story when you return to campus for your class reunion?

The wins and losses will fade, but the memories of the commitment displayed to each other; the loyalty for team; the pride of wearing your uniform; and the resilience, persistence, and grit to pick yourself up after a loss and keep going — these will always be my own "Do you remember?" moments. I love watching you all play.

Seniors: thank you for your dedication, your passion, your leadership, and the standards you have set for the teams to follow. You wore the jersey, the helmet, the swim cap with honor, and I am proud of each and every one of you.

2020 is a year for the history books . . . and the class of 2020 is a class I will never forget.

I have two signs above my desk that I look at every day. They remind me of why we do what we do:

The first says: "Believe."

And the other says: "If you don't climb the mountain, you can't see the view."

I believe that the challenges we face as an institution, as an athletics program, as a team, and as individuals will make us better and stronger.

To you seniors: believe in what you've been taught and stay in touch with your coaches.

To those of you returning in the fall: believe in yourself, believe in your coaches, believe in your teammates, and believe in Wells College. If you truly believe, the view will never disappoint.

Let me conclude with a quote from "Still I Rise," by my favorite poet, Dr. Maya Angelou:

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.

Congratulations to all of our teams, and to all of our award winners. This concludes our program but, before signing off:

Please be safe . . . be healthy . . . and BE WELLS."

A link to the Athletics Awards Program is at: https://wells.prestosports.com/general/2019-20/files/2020AwardsProgram.pdf