2008 All-Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Teams (PDF)
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Sage Colleges senior setter Kaitlin Olmstead was recognized as both Skyline Conference Player of the Year and Skyline Tournament MVP after leading the Gators to their second straight conference title and NCAA bid. Polytechnic Institute of NYU freshman Victoria Kalvert, the conference leader in kills was selected as Rookie of the Year. St. Joseph's College head coach Tobey Pantophlet, who directed an 11-win turnaround from last season, was named Coach of the Year.
A two-time selection as Skyline Player of the Week, Olmstead led the conference with 740 assists. Her assist average of 6.49 per set ranked third in the conference because Olmstead also played other positions when the squad was without its top hitters. Olmstead directed an offense that led the Skyline Conference in both kills per set and assists. She also ranked sixth in the conference with 3.18 digs per set. As a team, Sage went unbeaten against Skyline opponents and did not drop a set in 11 matches.
In addition to earning Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year honors, Olmstead was also selected as the Most Valuable Player in helping The Sage Colleges to its second straight Skyline title and NCAA Tournament bid. In two tournament matches, Olmstead averaged 8.33 assists and 4.00 digs as the Gators earned 3-0 victories over Bard in the semifinals and St. Joseph’s-Long Island in the championship. In the final against St. Joseph’s, she had 27 assists, 11 digs, three kills and a block as Sage scored a convincing 25-16, 25-11, 25-20 victory en route to its second title in as many years.
Kalvert is the second player in as many years to claim the honor, following the selection of teammate Meredith Shipman last season. As a freshman this season, Kalvert led the Skyline Conference with 3.44 kills per set and 303 total kills as well as 1.05 service aces per set. She also ranked second in hitting percentage (.297) and third in blocks per set (0.67). Kalvert was selected Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week on three occasions during the season.
St. Joseph’s College fourth-year head coach Tobey Pantophlet was selected as the Skyline Conference Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year by his peers. Pantophlet guided the Golden Eagles to a 20-9 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Skyline Conference play. The third-seed in the six-team Skyline Tournament, St. Joseph’s advanced to the championship match with a victory over Old Westbury in the quarterfinals and second-seeded Polytechnic in the semifinals. Pantophlet’s squad will undoubtedly rank as one of the most improved in the nation. St. Joseph’s more than doubled its win totals from 2007 (9-24, 3-6 Skyline), both overall and in conference play.
SUNY Maritime College earned the Skyline Conference's Team Sportsmanship Award in women's volleyball after displaying outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season.