LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - Freshman Saint Peter's women's volleyball player,
Karen Ramiu, was voted as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Year. She was also selected to the All-MAAC Second Team and the All-Rookie team, along with classmate
Alanis Alvarado.
An outside hitter, Ramiu has had an excellent start to her career this season. Despite having only played in 17 matches this year, she finished the regular season second on the team in kills, finishing with 255, while also adding 15 service aces, 23 blocks and 182 digs. In conference play, Ramiu was the only MAAC freshman during the regular season to rank in the top-10 in kills and points. She finished the league play with 235 kills, a 3.83 kills per set average, with 262 points, and averaging 4.30 points per set, which all ranked second overall in the MAAC. In the Peacocks' win against Rider, Ramiu finished with a career high 24 kills to help the Peacocks earn the upset win. This is not her first award from the MAAC as earlier in the season Ramiu earned Co-Rookie of the Week for the week of October 2.
"Karen missed part of the season but made an immediately impact and has done an excellent job carrying the load," said head coach
Amable Martinez. "We are extremely proud of the accolades she has earned this season. To not only be named to the All-Rookie team but to be selected as the top freshman, an award that has not been earned by a Peacock volleyball player since to 2001, is simply an indicator of her potential. She has shown she has the factors to be one of the best players in our conference by her selection to the All-MAAC Second Team, and in my opinion she has not even scratched the surface of her ceiling as a volleyball player."
Ramiu is the program's first major award winner in 17-years, following in the footsteps of Ludmila Kechina, who also earned MAAC Rookie of the Year, and Valentina Zaharieva, who won MAAC Player of the Year, in the same season.
Outside hitter,
Alanis Alvarado also had a stellar first year on the team. Alvarado appeared in all 32 regular season matches this year. She has totaled 319 digs this season, as well as 28 blocks, 340 points, 300 kills and 23 service aces. She is averaging 2.96 points, 2.61 kills and 2.77 digs a match. Earlier this season, she won both MAAC Player and Rookie of the Week for the week of August 28, becoming the league's first freshman to earn both player and rookie weekly awards in the same week. She claimed Saint Peter's first conference weekly award since Lauren Behren was named Player of the Week back on September 16, 2014.
"Alanis came out very strong, making history by being selected MAAC Player and Rookie of the week in the same week," Martinez said. "She has been working extremely hard to keep improving her game in all aspects throughout the season. She has a high ceiling and we are excited by her recognition by the coaches to select her to the All-Rookie team. "
"We are excited for the future, not only for the players recognized but of the program going forward," Martinez added.
The duo become the first Peacocks on the MAAC rookie team since Marlena Budna in 2015.
