FLUSHING, N.Y. (Oct. 23, 2019) - On Wednesday, the City University of New York Athletic Conference and Pepsi revealed the 2019 Community College Women's Volleyball All-Star selections, as voted upon by the league's head coaches.

Queensborough, which captured its seventh-straight CUNYAC regular season title earned the top two honors once again, as sophomore Tiffany Garcia-Lawson was selected as the Player of the Year and Head Coach Jason Demas got the nod for Coach of the Year. Rookie of the Year honors for 2019 went to Bronx freshman Nayely Rodriguez, who had an outstanding collegiate debut season for the Broncos. 

Player of the Year • Tiffany Garcia-Lawson, Queensborough

Garcia-Lawson becomes the second player in three seasons from Queensborough to hoist the Player of the Year trophy, as former teammate Paola Beniquez won the award two years running. 

The product of Floral Park, NY spiked her way through the season to record 139 kills, with a hitting percentage of .285 to lead the team. She also came up big on the defensive end, using her 5’10” frame at the net to pick up 50 blocks (including 42 solo). 

“Being a leader means that I cheer them on all the time. Like if we have a bad pass or something [I’ll tell them] think about the next pass, don’t think about what just happened. Just move on,” Garcia-Lawson said following QCC’s win against fourth place Bronx CC in the CUNYAC semifinals, in reference to leading a freshman heavy squad this season.

In that win on Monday night over Bronx, Garcia-Lawson, a graduate of St. John’s Prep High School, had a season-high 12 kills on 22 attacks with only two errors for a .455 clip.

Rookie of the Year • Nayely Rodriguez, Bronx

Nayely Rodriguez completed an impressive freshman campaign for the Broncos, leading the team in assists (143, 2.0 per game) and slotting second in kills (53), attempts (288) and digs (168). Against Middlesex, she had her most impressive match of the season notching 6 kills, 24 assists, and 14 digs.

Coach of the Year • Jason Demas, Queensborough

For the seventh consecutive year, and last eight of nine, Jason Demas of Queensborough wins CUNYAC’s Coach of the Year award from his peers. At the helm this season Demas coached the Tigers to a 6-0 record in conference play and 19-5 overall. This season he eclipsed the 200 win mark, to become QCC’s all-time winningest coach - in any sport. He picked up yet another CUNYAC championship, and looks to lead his team in the next upcoming match against conference team BMCC in the Regional XV Championships.

“There were a lot of injuries so people had to step up and play different positions,” said Demas, “and there was just kind of a ‘next person up’ mentality and it really helped us this year. Also I think forcing some of our role players to step up early in the season really helped us now.” 

2019 CUNYAC/Pepsi Community College Women's Volleyball All-Stars

Prishanny Skinner, Kingsborough
Michelle Sosa, Queensborough
Nolverys Fernandez, BMCC
Nayely Rodriguez, Bronx
Georgia Alexiou, Queensborough
Amira Durkovic, Queensborough

Player of the Year: Tiffany Garcia Lawson, Queensborough

Rookie of the Year: Nayely Rodriguez, Bronx

Coach of the Year: Jason Demas, Queensborough

Sportsmanship Award: Alondra Mesa, Bronx

Sportsmanship Team: Kinga Kupras, Kingsborough, Michelle Sosa, Queensborough