PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nina Cajic, Towson

Senior | Outside Hitter | Subotica, Serbia

Cajic becomes the fourth CAA Player of the Year in Towson program history and first since 2019. The senior outside hitter was the only player in the conference to record over 3.00 kills per set while posting a hitting percentage over .300. Cajic totaled 419.5 points (4.24/set), 353 kills (3.53/set), 40 service aces (0.40/set) and 201 digs (2.03/set) this season. The Subotica, Serbia native ranked third in the CAA in points and kills per set while ranking ninth with a .324 hitting percentage. Cajic reached double-digit kills in 21 matches this season and recorded six double-doubles. 

SETTER OF THE YEAR

Torri Henry, Stony Brook

Senior | Setter | Belton, Mo.

Henry is the second major award winner for the Seawolves in as many seasons, joining Kali Moore, the Rookie of the Year last fall. The senior setter leads the CAA and ranks 11th nationally with 10.76 assists per set. Henry accumulated 1,119 assists this season, including a league-best 754 in CAA play. She recorded at least 20 assists in every match this fall and tallied 40 or more 11 times, with a single-match conference-high 61 assists on September 30. Additionally, Henry contributed 17 double-doubles, racking up 292 digs and 2.81 digs per set. 

LIBERO OF THE YEAR

Tynley Smeltzer, Charleston

Junior | Libero/Defensive Specialist | Savannah, Ga.

Smeltzer came on strong in CAA play, recording a league-best 343 digs and 5.04 digs per set in conference action. On the year, the junior libero totaled 412 digs (3.96/set) to rank third in the CAA and posted a .943 reception percentage. Smeltzer tallied double-digit digs in all 18 conference matchups and 19 times this season, including 20 or more on eight occasions. Smeltzer joins Chandler Manusky (2019) and Andi Zbojniewicz (2014) as the third Cougar to earn CAA Defensive Specialist or Libero of the Year honors. 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Kaili Doctor, North Carolina A&T

Freshman | Outside Hitter | Mars, Pa. 

Doctor makes history for the Aggies, becoming North Carolina A&T’s first CAA Volleyball major award winner in program history. The freshman outside hitter totaled 238 kills on a .217 hitting percentage, adding 86 digs and 30 blocks. Doctor averaged 2.53 kills per set, ranking top-20 in the league, and recorded 10 or more kills in 11 matches this season with two double-doubles. 

CONFERENCE NOTES:

DELAWARE RETURNS TO THE TOP 

• Second-seeded Delaware defeated top-seeded Towson in four sets to claim its fifth CAA Volleyball title in program history and first since 2011. The Blue Hens previously won back-to-back CAA titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as 2010 and 2011, before their return to prominence in 2023. Delaware becomes the fifth program in league history to win five conference championships.

BLUE HENS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• Delaware received the conference’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament and will face No. 8 Missouri in the first round on Friday, December 1. The Blue Hens are making their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but first since 2011. Delaware holds a 2-4 record in the Big Dance. The Blue Hens defeated Princeton in the first round of its NCAA Tournament debut in 2007 before a first-round win over American in 2011. 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TIME

• Lani Mason posted back-to-back double-doubles and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Tournament. She averaged 4.63 kills and 2.63 digs per set throughout the weekend. Her teammates Ezgi Basaranlar (11.38 a/s) and Madelyn Grunza (3.38 k/s, .310%) joined Mason on the all-tournament team. In addition, Nina Cajic (5.14 k/s, .337%) and Irbe Lazda (4.14 k/s, .471%) represented Towson on the all-tournament team, while Campbell’s Chloe Cook (4.71 k/s, .381%) and Stony Brook’s Julia Patsos (5.17 d/s) rounded out the squad.

LET’S GO STREAKING 

• Delaware extended its winning streak to 15 matches after winning its fifth conference championship. It marks the longest winning streak in program history for the Blue Hens and the third consecutive season a CAA team has posted a double-digit winning streak. The streak is the ninth in the NCAA among active winning streaks, and Delaware is one of 10 teams with at least 10 straight victories. 

BALANCED ALL-CAA TEAMS 

• Overall, 10 teams had at least one student-athlete earn all-conference accolades, with eight programs having multiple honorees. Towson and Delaware led the way with four players recognized, while Campbell and Stony Brook had three each. Towson’s Nina Cajic and Victoria Barrett were joined on the First Team All-CAA by Campbell’s Chloe Cook and Melody Paige. In addition, Hofstra’s Beatriz Alves, Delaware’s Lani Mason, Stony Brook’s Torri Henry, Charleston’s Tynley Smeltzer and Naiya Sawtelle of N.C. A&T rounded out the squad. 

FOUR TEAMS EARN MAJOR AWARDS 

• Towson senior outside hitter Nina Cajic was named CAA Player of the Year, and the Tigers’ leader, Don Metil, received CAA Coach of the Year recognition. In addition, Stony Brook senior Torri Henry was tabbed the CAA Setter of the Year, Charleston junior Tynley Smeltzer collected CAA Libero of the Year honors, and North Carolina A&T freshman outside hitter Kaili Doctor was named the CAA Rookie of the Year.

TIGERS TAKE REGULAR SEASON TITLE

• Towson earned the CAA Regular Season title outright for the fourth consecutive season. The Tigers finished with a 16-2 recorded in CAA play, marking the third time in the last four years Towson tallied at least 15 wins in league play. TU has an impressive 61-7 (.897) record in conference play over the past five seasons.  

TEAM NOTES:

Charleston

• Charleston finished 14-16 overall and 11-7 in CAA play. The Cougars qualified for the conference championship for the third straight season.  

• Tynley Smeltzer led Charleston with 424 digs (3.96/set), including a league-best 359 (5.06/set) in CAA play. The CAA Libero of the Year had 10 or more digs in 20 matches this season, including 19 in a row to end the year.

• Lexi Wierzbicki paced Charleston with 328 kills (3.07/set), adding 262 digs (2.45/set). She had double-digit kills in 19 matches this fall, finishing her career with 1,305 kills.

Delaware 

• Delaware won its fifth CAA Championship in four sets over Towson. The Blue Hens extended their winning streak to a program-record 15 matches. It snapped an 11-year championship drought for UD. 

• Lani Mason recorded back-to-back double-doubles and was named CAA Tournament MOP. She averaged 4.63 kills and 2.63 digs per set, including 20 kills and 10 digs in the title match. 

• Ezgi Basaranlar earned all-tournament accolades, averaging 10.88 assists and 2.00 digs per set. Basaranlar surpassed 40 assists in both contests, recording her eighth double-double (44A, 10D) in the title match.

Elon 

• Elon dropped its final two matches this season, ending the year 5-22 overall. The Phoenix posted a 2-16 record in league play. 

• Jordan Gower paced Elon with 402 digs (4.19/set). The senior libero ranked fourth in the CAA in digs and digs per set this season. Gower had double-digit digs 20 times this season, including 20 or more eight times.

• Sydney Love led the Phoenix with 230 kills (2.88/set) this fall. Love had 10 or more kills in 14 matches this season. It marks her third straight season with 200-plus kills. 

Hampton 

• Hampton wrapped up its season with a non-conference setback against Norfolk State. The Lady Pirates concluded the year 0-19 overall. 

• Madison Clark recorded a team-best 99 kills (2.11/set) for Hampton. She also added 122 digs (2.60/set) for the Lady Pirates. Clark had 10 or more kills twice while reaching double-digit digs five times this season. 

• Kylah Hunter paced the Lady Pirates with 178 digs (3.02/set) this season. The junior defensive specialist had 10 or more digs eight times this year.

Hofstra 

• Hofstra finished the season 18-11 overall after going 8-10 in league play. The Pride recorded a CAA-best 10 non-conference wins, including a 10-1 start, its best since 1988. 

• Beatriz Alves tallied a team-best 1,147 assists, ranking second in the CAA with 10.52 assists per set. In addition, she recorded 250 digs (2.29/set), posting 10 double-doubles this season.

• Clara Bal paced the Hofstra attack with 335 kills and ranked sixth in the CAA, averaging 3.16 kills per set. The sophomore outside hitter tallied 10 or more kills 21 times this fall. 

North Carolina A&T

• North Carolina concluded its season 8-18 overall with a 6-12 mark in league play. The six CAA wins are one more than A&T won in its inaugural season. 

• Naiya Sawtelle paced A&T with 382 kills this season and led the CAA with 3.82 kills per set. Sawtelle has at least 10 kills in 23 matches this season and 20 or more on five occasions. She was also A&T's first-ever First Team All-CAA honoree.

• Kaili Doctor also made history, becoming A&T’s first CAA Volleyball major award winner. The CAA Rookie of the Year tallied 238 kills (2.53/set), with 10 or more in 11 matches. 

UNCW

• The Seahawks won its final two matches this season, finishing 12-16 overall with a 9-9 mark in league play. It marks the most CAA wins for UNCW since 2015.

• Despite missing six matches, Katie Lanz paced UNCW with 249 kills. The senior outside hitter ranked seventh in the CAA at 3.11 kills per set. Lanz tallied 10 or more kills 15 times and had seven double-doubles.

• Jadyn Barry paced UNCW with 372 digs (3.68/set). The senior libero reached double-digit digs in the final 20 matches this fall. In addition, Berry had 20 or more digs four times.  

Northeastern 

• Northeastern went 11-14 overall this season with a 9-9 record in league play. It marked the eighth straight season NU made the CAA Championship, falling in the first round.

• Abby Reck paced NU in kills as a freshman, recording 255 (2.77/set) this season. She tallied double-digit in 12 matches and earned CAA All-Rookie Team accolades. 

• Anabel Zier added 202 kills (2.20/set) and a team-best 85 blocks (0.92/set). The grad transfer earned Second Team All-CAA honors for the Huskies this season. 

Stony Brook 

• Stony Brook finished the year 17-14 overall and 11-7 in conference play. It marks the first winning season for SBU since 2018, and the Seawolves won their program’s first CAA Tournament match this fall. 

• Torri Henry led the CAA in assists (1,188) and assists per set (10.80) en route to CAA Setter of the Year honors. Henry had 17 double-doubles this season and 30 or more helpers 23 times.

• Kali Moore paced Stony Brook with 354 kills this season. She ranked fifth in the CAA with 3.24 kills per set. Moore tallied 10 or more kills 17 times, including a career-high 24 on Sept. 2.

Towson 

• Towson fell to Delaware in the CAA title match. It marked the fifth straight championship match appearance for the Tigers. It was their first loss in the title game since 2005.

• Nina Cajic was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 5.14 kills per set on a .337 hitting percentage. Cajic had 18 kills and hit over .300 in both matches. She had double-digit kills with at least a .300 hitting percentage 17 times this fall.

• Irbe Lazda added 29 kills (4.14/set) on a .472 hitting percentage. Lazda tallied double-digit kills in both matches, including 19 in the championship en route to all-tournament honors. 

William & Mary

• The Tribe finished its first season under head coach Ryan Adams 13-15 overall with an 8-10 mark in league play. It marked the most CAA for W&M since 2009.

• Olivia Esposito led the CAA in hitting percentage (.367) and blocks per set (1.27). The sophomore middle blocker tallied 158 kills (1.80/set) and 112 blocks en route to Second Team All-CAA honors.

• Sarah Callender added 231 kills (2.63/set) and 230 digs (2.61/set) for the Tribe. Callender had eight double-doubles this season with double-digit kills 10 times and 13 performances with 10 or more digs.