Junior Monika Smidova has been named the Patriot
League Setter of the Year and Head Coach Barry
Goldberg was honored as the Coach of the Year for the
fifth time in his career, conference officials announced Tuesday.
American also had five student-athletes recognized on the
All-Patriot League Teams.
Smidova becomes the first American volleyball player to earn
Setter of the Year honors since Christina Nash '09 was honored
in 2008. The junior led the Patriot League in assists all season
and is averaging a league-best 10.66 apg after sitting out all last
season due to an injury. She is also ranked fifth in the conference
with 0.41 saps and a .322 hitting percentage this year. Smidova has
been named the Patriot League Player of the Week twice this season
and has recorded eight double-doubles on the year. The Plzen, Czech
Republic native also finished the season with 2.48 dps, 1.10 kps
and 0.60 bps. Smidova was previously recognized on the All-Patriot
League Second Team in 2011.
Goldberg is honored as the Patriot League Coach of the Year for
the fifth time in his career after leading American to a 30-2
record and 15-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles have recorded
22 sweeps this year and are currently on a 12-game win streak
heading into this weekend's Patriot League Tournament.
Goldberg owns a career record of 619-226 and is 173-11 all-time
against conference opponents.
Goldberg was previously named the Patriot League Coach of the
Year in 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2011, leading American to records of
26-4, 25-7, 29-3 and 23-11, respectively.
Joining Smidova on the All-Patriot League Team are senior Juliana Crum and junior Kristyna Lindovska. Crum receives her
second All-Patriot League First Team honor after finishing fifth in
the conference with 2.96 kps and ninth with 2.98 dps. Lindovska
lead the Patriot League all year with 3.59 kps and is also
averaging 0.79 bps.
Morgan Hendrix and Kelly McCaddin were named to the
All-Patriot League Second Team. Hendrix ranked second in the
conference in both blocks per set (1.08) and hitting percentage
(.350) and is recognized for the second time in her career after
being named to the All-Patriot League First Team last season.
McCaddin is hitting a team-best .419 this year, good for 14th in
the country, and is also third in the League with 1.01 bps.
American will host the 2013 Patriot League Tournament this
Saturday and Sunday, November 23-24, in Bender Arena. Top-seeded
American will play fourth-seeded Lehigh on Saturday at 2 p.m. with
second-seeded Colgate facing third-seeded Army at 5 p.m. The winner
of these games will then square off on Sunday at 2 p.m. to decide
the 2013 Patriot League Champion. Tickets to the tournament are
priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth 17 and under and can be
purchased the day of the game. Fans unable to make it to Bender
Arena in person can still catch all of the action live and for free
on the Patriot League Network.
