CAMBRIDGE, MA -- On the day on which the Lynx learned the team's first-ever NCAA Tournament opponent, Lesley University middle hitter Amanda McCracken (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) was named 2010 New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Year.

The sophomore led the Lynx to a 19-9 record and an NECC title in Saturday's 3-2 win at No. 1 seed Daniel Webster, capping a season in which she transformed herself into the league's elite force at, and in her case above, the net. Also an All-NECC First Team selection, she led the league with a .419 hitting percentage, setting a new Lesley single-season record with 448 kills. She also led the conference with 510 points and 5.43 points per set.

Equally a force on the defensive side of the net, McCracken established a new program record with 95 total blocks (55 solo, 40 assisted), breaking Lindsey Marek's 2007 mark of 91 blocks. A business management and art therapy double-major, McCracken was three times named the NECC Player of the Week in 2010.

Also represented from Lesley as All-NECC Honorable Mention selections were fellow sophomores Megan Ortwein and Kaitlyn Miller. Ortwein ranks second on the team with 187 kills (4.39 per set) and 238 digs (2.33 per set), also adding 24 total blocks.

As McCracken ascended to the status of the league's elite hitter, her setter, Miller, paved the way. Miller led the league with 7.85 assists per set and a league-best 738 assists in all, setting a new Lesley record.

McCracken's Lynx learned Monday morning the team's 2010 NCAA Tournament match-up. Lesley will take on No. 1 seed Amherst College on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on the campus of host Springfield College.

2010 NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amanda McCracken, Lesley, SO. (Eldersburg, Md.) 

2010 NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR: Joanna Hogue, Southern Vermont, Jr., (Los Gatos, Calif.)

2010 NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ashley Fuller, Elms, Fr., (Amherst, Mass.)

2010 NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Braden Zamore, Daniel Webster

2010 NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Bay Path College

2010 ALL-NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM
Amanda McCracken, Lesley, Sophomore

Chelsey Crawford, Daniel Webster, Sophomore

Caitlyn DiPierro, Daniel Webster, Junior

Ashliy Velez, Southern Vermont, Junior

Hershey Canta, Southern Vermont, Junior

Joann Hogue, Southern Vermont, Junior

2010 ALL-NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM

Ashley Fuller, Elms, Freshman

Samantha Hill, Daniel Webster, Sophomore

Stacy Croteau, Elms, Junior

Emily Travis, Daniel Webster, Junior

Jenn Rego, Elms, Junior

Stephanie McKeon, Mitchell, Senior

2010 ALL-NECC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL HONORABLE MENTION

Stephanie Williams, Newbury, Sophomore

Amy Chen, Newbury, Senior

Melissa Clark, Elms, Senior

Kaitlyn Miller, Lesley, Sophomore

Megan Ortwein, Lesley, Sophomore

Nadine Harkless, Bay Path, Junior