2000 CUNYAC Women's Volleyball Championship

Hawks Soar to 5^th Straight Title

Hunter College won the 2000 Sprint PCS/CUNY Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament and earned its second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. The Hawks defeated Lehman College on their home court by scores of 15-3, 15-1, 15-7 in the final to earn their fifth CUNYAC title in a row and 14th in the 16 years.

Brienne McGuinness led Hunter with 4 kills, 7 digs, and 19 assists in the championship match to earn Tournament MVP honors. Jamie Hamilton added 7 kills and 3 blocks for the Hawks while Jezel Rodriguez contributed 6 kills and 8 digs.

"We had a really good season," said McGuinness, a senior setter from New City, NY, "our returning players and our newcomers really bonded together, on and off the court. This team is really strong, we have a lot of confidence in ourselves."

Similar sentiments were echoed by her coach, Lauren Caiaccia, "We strive to demand the most from our athletes-in and out of the classroom. We expect them to be proud on the court and remember what it means to wear a Hunter uniform."

For Lehman, Sakeena Esteves passed around 34 assists and 6 digs in the final. The Lightning were playing in the title contest for the first time since 1996.

Hunter has a tremendous history in women's volleyball and, in addition to its CUNYAC success, won ECAC Championships (the Division III equivalent of basketball's NIT) in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993. The 2000 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships begin November 9.

"We played very well today," said Lehman coach Junior Garcia. "But Hunter is the stronger, better team. I know they will represent us well in the Nationals."

In the day's semifinals, Hunter topped CCNY (10-11) by scores of 15-1, 15-2, 7-15, 15-0. McGuinness distributed 27 assists to lead Hawks into the Championship Clash. In the other, Lehman outlasted John Jay (15-9) 15-3, 16-14, 15-13. The Lightning were paced by Divina Arroyo with 5 kills and 5 blocks to make it to the final.

Arroyo, a four-year senior for the Lightning was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Sakeena Esteves, Hunter's Hamilton and Jezel Rodriguez, John Jay's Isorys Dilone, and CCNY's Lisette Evangelista.

By Gregg Cohen-CUNYAC