For the month of February, Baruch College's men's volleyball senior Steven Coniglio has been named the CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete of the Month. This is the third time the senior will be named the CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month.
A team tri-captain and Math tutor at Baruch, Coniglio was the recipient of the 2013 NCAA Elite 89 Academic Award for the last two seasons. An overall outstanding student, the Old-Bethpage native is a member of two honor societies--the Phi Eta Sigma society (for outstanding freshman students) and the Sigma Alpha Delta society (for outstanding Baruch Bearcats).
"I work hard and then put all of my effort into playing hard. I know the same work ethic has carried over" said Coniglio.
Prior to being voted Preseason 2014 Volleyball All-American by "Off the Block", a volleyball blog, the 2013 CUNYAC Regular Season MVP spent his summer in Brazil playing with the USA Division lll National Volleyball Team. This accomplishment capped off a superb junior season for the middle blocker who was a member of the 2013 CUNYAC championship and NCAA Division lll Final Four teams.
The Plainview-Bethpage graduate is no stranger to success as he was also named CUNYAC Athlete of the Week five times during this time collegiate career, four times in 2012 as a sophomore and once as a junior in 2013, but his biggest accomplishment thus far had to have been receiving his first All-American honor after being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Second Team.
Though he continues netting awards, he also racked up accolades during his sophomore and freshman seasons. Some of these include: 2012 First-Team All-Star and Team MVP, member of the 2012 and 2011 CUNYAC championship team, and a member of the 2nd place team in the NEVCA Regional Tournament. This veteran middle blocker also played in Baruch's first ever Intercollegiate Division III Final Four Event at Molten.
In February, Coniglio recorded 79 kills averaging 1.84 kills per set, notched 6 solo blocks and assisted on 29 others, and lastly scored 10 aces while averaging 0.23 aces per set.
Along with his proven scholastic and athletic ability, the actuarial science major has demonstrated astounding character on and off the field. "Steven is a team leader. He is the first to shake an opponent's hand after a match. He teaches the younger players sportsmanship and how to conduct themselves," said his head coach, Danial Levent.
Coniglio might say the impact the team has had on him has been greater. "Baruch College volleyball has offered me something different from any other time I have played volleyball. There's a sense of brotherhood and friendship here. The guys that play here are tremendous. They come from all over the world. They're best friends and I consider everyone of them a brother", remarked the all-star.