Women’s volleyball players earn all-conference honors

Photo (from left): Samantha Higgins ’18, Emily Lipinski ’16 and Morgan VanderBaan ’18

Samantha Higgins ’18, Emily Lipinski ’16 and Morgan VanderBaan ’18 have been named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference all-conference team for women’s volleyball. Higgins was named a first-team middle blocker, while Lipinski and VanderBaan garnered third team honors.

Higgins finished the 2015 season with 216 and 66 blocks, ranking third in the conference in that category. “Sam worked very hard to get to where she is right now and as just a sophomore she has two more years to grow even more as a player,” said head coach Lauren Parsons. “She has set the bar for her goals and I know it’s going to fuel her to keep working hard.”

Lipinski totaled 183 kills and 55 blocks for a .259 kill percentage, ranking fourth in conference. “Emily has been a solid player for us and I’m happy that the conference has noticed that once again in her,” Parsons said. “Her presence on the court is definitely noticed and she has worked hard to be able to hit the ball harder and block much stronger.”

VanderBaan was second on the team with 243 digs. “Morgan is not afraid to sacrifice her body to get a ball up,” Parsons said. “She has really mastered being a defensive specialist for us and with her to also be a sophomore she has two more years to be a dominant back row player for us.  It’s great that the conference has noticed a defensive specialist and the hard work they put in to keep the ball alive.”