ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Lesley University senior Danielle McDonald (Lilitz, Pa.) has been named 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year. McDonald, who is the first in Lesley program history to garner the award, led the conference in total digs (422) and digs per set (4.44) while helping the Lynx to the NECC Championship match for the second straight season.

Lesley sophomore Kaylee Deluga (Dennis, Mass.) was voted the NECC First Team following a season where she led the Lynx and finished second in the conference in kills (283), kills per set (3.33), and hitting percentage (.327).

Senior Emily Marden (Fremont, Calif.) and sophomore Anni Abbruzzese (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) were voted to the NECC Second Team. Marden finished second in the NECC and was tops on the team with 786 assists and 8.27 assists per set. She also helped out on the defensive end as she averaged 2.79 digs per set.

Abbruzzese also had a strong season at the net for the Lynx as she slammed down 2.72 kills per set, the fifth highest total in the conference.

This is the second time both Marden and Abbruzzese have been voted to the All-Conference team.

Senior Anthea Rathjens (Sudbury, Mass.) was named to the inaugural NECC All-Sportsmanship team. The senior has enjoyed quite the career in a Lynx uniform as she helped lead the program to four-straight NECC Tournament appearances, including advancing to back-to-back title matches.