Naomi Bush Names America East Volleyball Rookie of the Year, Oscars and Loynachan Also Receive Post Season Honors

Naomi Bush is the latest addition to an impressive list of freshman to play for UMBC. After averaging 2.48 kills per set, hitting .233, while having 68 digs, 29 blocks, and 10 service aces, she became the fourth Retriever in five years to win the Rookie of the Year award. She joins Sarah Ball (2005), Ashley Oscars (2006), and Alyssa Lang (2008) on the list of award winners.

Lang though though build on her rookie of the year performance last season with a second team all-conference year as a sophomore. This year she led the team with 232 kills (3.14 kps) and is second on the team with 186 digs (2.51 dps). She had eight double-doubles and 16 service aces.

The third Retriever to earn post-season honors was Ali Loynachan, who joined Bush on the all-rookie team. Though she missed seven games in the middle of the season she led the team in hitting percentage (.257). She had 132 kills (2.13 kps), 69 digs, 36 blocks, and 14 service aces.

Proctor First Team, Greene Second Team, Controversy Across the Board

Because the retriever weekly did not feel that my article was a big enough story to cover despite being the lead story on ESPN and yahoo I will post it here.

At the end of the season banquet two retrievers were honored by being selected to the All-America East team.

Darryl Proctor, who was second in the conference in scoring (20.0 p.p.g.) and third in rebounding (8.6 r.p.g.) while shooting 47.4% from the field was named to his second first team all-AEC. Also, Proctor was the only player in the conference to score in double figures every game this year and one of three to scoring in double figures in all conference games.

“He’s a phenomenal player and there is no question about that,” said coach Randy Monroe. “It doesn’t surprise me. He has the will of a lion and it’s just great to coach a player of that talent and he’s just done a phenomenal job.”

Meanwhile Jay Greene was selected to the all-AEC second team after a great season where he scored 12.7 p.p.g. with 6.0 a.p.g. and an assist to turnover ratio of 2.77. Greene was once again in the top 20 in both categories ranking 12th in assist to turnover ratio and 19th in assists.

“He does a terrific job for us,” Monroe said. “Every year he’s gotten better and better and there is no question he’s one of the best guards in the country.”

Justin Fry was also awarded at the end of the year banquet. He was selected to the all-academic team as just the second retriever to do so. The other was former retriever Brian Hodges. Fry accumulated a 3.32 grade-point average as an economics major. It was surprising though to see Matt Spadafora not named to the all-academic team has he accumulated a 4.0 also as an economics major.

While all three of those awards were expected, there was plenty of shocking selections. Most apparent was Binghamton Guard D.J. Rivera not being selected to the all-AEC first team. Rivera was selected to the second team but became the first player in 30 years to lead the AEC in scoring but not be selected to the first team. Rivera was definitely well qualified to be the player of the year in the AEC and missed the first team. Another way to look at it is the best player on the best team (Binghamton won the conference championship) is not one of the best players in the conference.

No player from Binghamton was selected to the first team. His teammate Emanuel Mayben also made a great case for the first team but joined Rivera on the second team.

“We’re not surprised because we go to Binghamton University,” Mayben said. “If you were part of our team you wouldn’t be surprised either. More power to the conference and more power to the first team. We’re just here to win games.”

According to America East Conference Commissioner Patrick Nero Rivera’s absence was a form of protest for his hardship waiver that did not make him sit out a year after transferring from St. Joseph’s after failing out.

“It wasn’t a protest toward the kid at all. It was a protest toward the N.C.A.A. in allowing him to be eligible. It’s unfortunate, I don’t think it’s right. It’s unfair to the young man. He didn’t do anything wrong,” he said.

It was later released that only two coaches, which are unknown due to anonymous voting, left Rivera off their ballots completely.

Other striking controversies included the selection of Marqus Blakely as POY and defensive player of the year for the second year in a row, while it was no surprise that be won DPOY, his POY award came as somewhat of a shock. While he was qualified most expected the award to go to Rivera or Proctor.

“It’s disappointing for him because I thought he deserved it,” Monroe said. “But life goes on and he’s certainly proved that in the tournament and he’s not letting that stop him from doing what he needs to do.”

As far as freshman awards, nothing was more controversial than the absence of UMBC guard Chauncey Gilliam from the all-rookie team.

“He didn’t get on it and those things happen but Chauncey is a gamer and he understands things don’t always your way and you learn from those things and you get ready for the next year,” Monroe said.

Gilliam was seen as a lock for that team by most. He started the majority of the season and scored 10.9 p.p.g. with 4.3 r.p.g. and shot an astounding 53.3% from the floor, good for fourth in the conference.

As was the POY award, the Rookie of the Year award was again very controversial. Boston U forward Jake O’Brien left with that award, and though he lead all freshmen in scoring with 12.6 p.p.g., he was not very impressive in any other part of the game. However, Stony Brook forward Tommy Brenton lead the conference in defensive rebounds and was just 0.1 r.p.g. behind Blakely for the most overall rebounds a game with 8.9. He also scored a very respectable 6.8 p.p.g.