Gillis, Chase Headline 2021 MASCAC Volleyball All-Conference Awards

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.) was named the 2021 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Offensive Player of the Year, while Head Coach Bernie Chase was voted Champions Choice Volleyball Coach of the Year.

The major awards were part of the announcement of the 2021 All-Conference teams, announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Joining Gillis on the First Team is first year Angela Colonis (Waterford, Conn.), while Leele Tyler (Longmeadow, Mass.) was voted as a Second Team honoree.

Gillis, a senior outside hitter, helped the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 conference record and the MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the league tournament for MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades. She finished the year in the top six of the MASCAC in several categories, including kills per set (3.02), total kills (260), hitting percentage (.188), digs (306), digs per set (3.56), while adding 25 aces, 21 blocks and 16 assists. In the 3-1 win over Anna Maria College, she had 25 kills and 21 digs in the victory.

Colonis was a threat to the opponent in all aspects of the game, working as a setter and a hitter while also serving well and playing terrific defense. She averaged 1.46 kills per set and was fifth in the MASCAC with 368 total assists. Her 243 digs and 26 service aces were both among the top 25 in the conference. On October 18th, Colonis was named MASCAC Rookie of the Week after picking up three straight double-doubles. 

Colonis had double-digit digs in 12 matches this season, double-digit assists in 21 matches, and double-digit kills twice, including in the MASCAC title game against Framingham State.

Tyler was among the top-ten in the MASCAC in kills per set (2.48), total kills (206), and hitting percentage, where she was fourth with a .204 attacking clip. She had double-digit kills in four straight games to end the season, including in both MASCAC postseason contests. 

Chase guided the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 record in the MASCAC and their third regular season conference title in the past four years.

This was the first All-Conference selection for Tyler and Colonis, while Gillis was a Second Team selection in 2019. For Coach Chase, this is his third Champions Choice Coach of the Year award since 2018.