PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Little East Conference (LEC) announced its annual women’s volleyball major award winners and all-conference teams Tuesday, following a vote of the league’s head coaches.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior defensive specialist Emily Pogorelec was named the 2025 LEC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the LEC with 504 total digs and ranking second in the conference at 4.89 digs per set. She is just the second player in conference history to be named LEC Defensive Player of the Year in each of her four seasons of eligibility, the first being UMass Boston’s Elizabeth Glavan from 2013-16.
Western Connecticut State University had a pair of major award winners in 2025 LEC Offensive Player of the Year Julia Stoliker and 2025 LEC Setter of the Year Maggie Ferguson, both of whom received their awards for the first time. The seniors led WestConn to a 20-7 overall record that included a 5-3 mark in conference action.
Ferguson led the LEC with 908 assists while averaging a league-best 9.56 assists per set. An outside hitter, Stoliker led the LEC in total points (424), points per set (4.46) and kills per set (3.78) while ranking second in the conference in kills (359).
Plymouth State University freshman middle hitter Sya McKay was named the 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year after helping lead the Panthers to an overall record of 23-7 and the 2025 LEC tournament title, the program’s first since 2004. She lead the conference with 103 total blocks, is second in blocks per set (0.92) and third in hitting percentage (.292) while totaling 280 kills, a total that is second-best on the team.
Coaching Staff of the Year was awarded to UMass Boston. Third-year head coach Stacy Cheney, and assistants Jill Hirschinger, Morgan Thatcher-Roberts, Naveen Thiruvazki and Julian Veneske, and manger Abby Cummings guided the Beacons to a 14-13 overall record against some of the top competition in the nation. UMass Boston placed second in the final LEC standings at 6-2 in league play.
The complete listing of LEC honors for the 2025 season are as follows.
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Julia Stoliker |
Western Connecticut |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Emily Pogorelec |
UMass Dartmouth |
| Setter of the Year |
Maggie Ferguson |
Western Connecticut |
| Rookie of the Year |
Sya McKay |
Plymouth State |
| Coaching Staff of the Year |
|
UMass Boston |
|
|
|
| First Team All-LEC |
|
|
| Opposite |
Olivia Seutter |
UMass Dartmouth |
| Outside Hitter |
Allison Pate |
UMass Dartmouth |
| Defensive Specialist |
Emily Pogorelec |
UMass Dartmouth |
| Setter |
Ella Koelb |
Plymouth State |
| Middle Hitter |
Sya McKay |
Plymouth State |
| Setter |
Maggie Ferguson |
Western Connecticut |
| Outside Hitter |
Julia Stoliker |
Western Connecticut |
|
|
|
| Second Team All-LEC |
|
|
| Outside Hitter |
Emma Robinson |
Eastern Connecticut |
| Outside Hitter |
Gigi Stake |
Keene State |
| Setter |
Audrey Cofield |
UMass Boston |
| Outside Hitter |
Paige Coulson |
UMass Boston |
| Defensive Specialist |
Mary Matthews |
UMass Boston |
| Middle Hitter |
Aleek Kuot |
UMass Dartmouth |
| Setter |
Skye Peters |
UMass Dartmouth |
|
|
|
| Sportsmanship Team |
|
|
| Brooke Praskievicz |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
| Delia Ryan |
Keene State |
|
| Mary Denny |
UMass Boston |
|
| Maddie Carter |
UMass Dartmouth |
|
| Veronika Castro Rodriguez |
Plymouth State |
|
| Caroline Morrell |
Rhode Island College |
|
| Kylee Eubanks-Hemme |
Southern Maine |
|
| Hannah Varney |
VTSU Castleton |
|
| Sydney Slupatchuk |
Western Connecticut |
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