JERSEY CITY, NJ – Due to the unfortunate cancelation of the 2020-21 season as a result of COVID-19 safety protocols, the Saint Peter's University women's volleyball program missed out on properly sending off its class of 2021. This year's graduating class ushered in a new era of Peacock women's volleyball. As a unit, this year's seniors helped guide SPU to its best overall and conference win marks in a decade during the 2018 campaign, also leading the program to its first MAAC tournament win since 2006, when the team knocked off Marist during the opening round of the 2018 MAAC Championship. The class of 2021 also aided in guiding the Peacocks to their most combined victories over a two-year period, dating back to 2009-10.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our seniors -
Wildalys Soto,
Imani Spicer,
Karla Seda and
Yaidelis Lopez-Jimenez," said head women's volleyball coach
Joe Chojnacki. "All four of these young ladies have contributed greatly to changing our culture here at Saint Peter's and putting us on a path towards success. They sacrificed their own personal goals for the greater good of the future of our program. They are all smart, strong and focused individuals. I was honored to coach them and I hope I was able to make a positive impact in their lives, because I know they have made a positive impact on me. I wish them all well and cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication to Saint Peter's Volleyball."
A member of the Peacocks defensive unit,
Yaidelis Lopez-Jimenez played in 75 matches and 211 sets during her time at Saint Peter's. Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, she posted 308 digs and 42 assists in her career. The best season of Lopez-Jimenez career came in 2017 when she recorded 207 digs and 35 assists, logging 20.0 points. Academically, she was a three-time honoree to the MAAC All-Academic Team while studying biology at Saint Peter's.
One of the most decorated liberos in program history,
Karla Seda left her mark on the defensive side of the net over the course of her time in Jersey City. The 2020-21 Preseason All-MAAC Team selection leaves Saint Peter's having logged 1,388 digs, becoming only the 10th Peacock in program history to surpass 1,000 career digs. Seda's career digs place her fourth in the record books for the category. She graduates as the all-time leader in career digs average, recording 4.18 per set after appearing in 332 sets played. In addition to her career numbers, Seda owns four individual single-season records. Her total digs and digs per set marks from the 2018 and 2019 campaigns each hold individual spots on Saint Peter's charts. Seda's 5.37 digs average in 2019 ranks first, while her digs total from the same season is second all-time. During her sophomore season in 2018, she logged the program's fifth most single-season digs and ninth best digs average. Seda will graduate with a degree in biology and has earned three selections to the MAAC All-Academic squad.
Serving as the team's primary setter,
Wildalys Soto was an integral piece to Saint Peter's attack. In 2019, she led the offense with career-marks in assists (828), assists per set (7.46), kills (42), and blocks (39). Soto accumulated 14 double-doubles on the season and added 23 service aces as well. For her career, the Patillas, Puerto Rico native has participated in 65 matches and 211 sets, handing out 1,354 assists and averaging 6.41 assists per set, while receiving 384 digs. Soto's career assists rank fifth all-time and her career assists average ranks fourth in program history. In the classroom, she studies biology and has earned a spot on a trio of MAAC All-Academic teams.
Homegrown in Round Rock, Texas,
Imani Spicer appeared in 43 matches and 98 sets in a Peacock uniform. The 5-foot-5 setter compiled 271 career assists and 127 career digs. Spicer's most impressive season was 2017 when she posted 18 kills, 96 digs, and 205 assists in 24 matches. Majoring in pre-elementary education, she has been voted to three MAAC All-Academic lineups during her time in New Jersey. Spicer also served as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Saint Peter's.
