AVCA Release
 
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament get ever closer this coming weekend, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual All-Region Teams on Thursday morning with two Ithaca student-athletes named in the release. Joelle Goldstein was named to the New York All-Region Team, while Amanda Cerruti was an Honorable Mention selection.
 
The announcement marked another accolade for Goldstein, who has already been named the Empire 8 Player of the Year and an All-Conference First-Team selection, as well as an All-Region Scholar by CoSIDA earlier this fall. The junior outside hitter turned in a pair of strong performances in helping lead Ithaca to its second consecutive Empire 8 Championship, combining for 19 kills, 19 digs and three service aces in victories over Nazareth and Stevens at the conference tournament last weekend. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the match on Sunday, which gave Ithaca the automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
On the year, Goldstein has amassed a team-best 315 kills and 46 service aces, while she ranks second on the team with 311 digs. She has posted 12 double-double efforts with 10-plus kills and 10-plus digs this season. The announcement marks the second straight year that Goldstein has been named an All-Region player by the AVCA. She is one of eight players in the New York Region to garner All-Region honors multiple times.
 
Cerruti has had a breakout season in her second year on South Hill, as she appeared in the AVCA All-Region release for the first time during her career. In addition to the Honorable Mention from the region's volleyball coaches, she also was an All-Conference Second-Team honoree by the Empire 8 this season.
 
One of the most feared net defenders in New York, she racked up 121.0 total blocks on the year, amassing 34 solo blocks and 87 block assists. Cerruti was also terrific on the offensive end as well, marking 215 kills on .262 hitting, both marks ranking second on the team among middle hitters. She played a big factor in helping Ithaca capture the Empire 8 title last weekend, combining for 12 kills, four solo blocks and six block assists over the two matches.
 
Goldstein will now be eligible for selection to the AVCA All-American Team, which is set to be released later this month.
 
Ithaca will begin its quest for a National Championship this Friday, November 11, when it meets NESCAC Champion Middlebury in the opening round at 5:30 p.m. The Bombers are competing in the Brockport, N.Y., Region.