PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Western Connecticut State University earned two of the four individual awards for the 2007 women’s volleyball season as the Little East All-Conferences Teams were unveiled this afternoon following a vote by the seven head coaches. Freshman outside hitter Natalie Crosby and Greg Poole were named Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. Rhode Island College senior middle blocker Kimiyo Garcia was tabbed Offensive Player of the Year, while Plymouth State University junior defensive specialist Sarah Spears was selected Defensive Player of the Year.

Garcia made an immediate impact in the Rhode Island College starting lineup, pacing the Anchorwomen in blocks (127), hitting percentage (.302), kills (465), and service aces (61), while ranking second in digs (305). The senior middle hitter from Riverside, R.I. led the conference circuit in blocks and kills, while third in service aces and fifth in hitting percentage. Garcia was just 14 winners shy of breaking the program’s all-time single season kills mark. She was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice, while earning Defensive Player of the Week once. Garcia is the first Rhode Island College student-athlete to be named offensive player of the year.

Spears became the first Plymouth State University player to be honored as the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Meredith, N.H. product sat atop the conference standings in digs (565), while ranking fifth in service aces (59). Spears is making her first appearance on the all-conference teams, earning first-team honors. She will lead the Panthers into the quarterfinal round of the ECAC New England Tournament, marking Plymouth State’s six straight postseason berth.

Crosby is the third Western Connecticut State University student-athlete to be selected Little East Conference Rookie of the Year. The East Haven, Conn. native led the Colonials in kills (285), while ranking second in digs (288) and service aces (37). She is the lone rookie to be recognized on the all-conference teams this season. Crosby was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week twice.

Poole led Western Connecticut State University to a second place finish in the Little East Conference standings with a 5-1 mark in the conference circuit. The Colonials advanced to the championship match of the Little East Conference Tournament, but fell to upset-minded Eastern Connecticut State University this past weekend. Poole will lead his charges into the ECAC New England Tournament with a quarterfinal match at Coast Guard.

Keene State College and Plymouth State University each placed four student-athletes on the all-conference teams, while Western Connecticut was one off the pace. Eastern Connecticut State University, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and Rhode Island College each had a lone honoree.