Three volleyball players, three soccer players earn accolades

Full Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference Teams

RINDGE, N.H. (January 31, 2014) – Six Franklin Pierce University student-athletes have been named to the fall 2013 Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference Team in their respective sports, as announced Friday by the Conference office. Volleyball led the way for the Ravens with three selections: senior outside hitter Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.), senior libero Lauren Miller (Alexandria, Ind.) and junior outside hitter Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y.). Joining the trio was a pair of women's soccer players in senior back Gabriela Vieira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and junior midfielder Caroline Savasta (Salem, Mass.), as well as men's soccer graduate student midfielder Terence Ciavarra (Sutton, Mass.). The selected Ravens were among 91 student-athletes across seven sports honored by the Northeast-10.

To be eligible for selection to the Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must fulfill each of the following criteria: (1) participated in at least half of the team's competitions as a starter or significant contributor, (2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale), and (3) completed at least one academic year at his/her current institution. The teams are chosen by the vote of a committee of athletic administrators and Faculty Athletic Representatives.

For Ray, it marks her second straight Academic All-Conference Team selection. For the remaining five Ravens, it marks their first career selection.

Currently sporting a 3.90 grade-point average as a mass communication major, Ray is a two-time All-Conference selection for the Ravens, including Second-Team honors this fall. She finished the season 16th in the Northeast-10 in kills per set (2.55), as well as seventh in aces per set (0.37). A threat on defense as well, Ray finished among the Conference's top 50 in blocks per set, which allowed her to total 3.12 points per set, good for 14th in the Northeast-10. Defensively, she finished the season just outside the top 30 in digs per set (2.57). Ray is the defending Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winner in volleyball, and is up for the honor again this year.

Miller, who holds a 3.56 grade-point average as an accounting/finance major, had the best season of her career as a senior and hauled in a bevy of hardware as a result. She finished 23rd in the nation with 5.39 digs per set, which was good enough to lead the Northeast-10 en route to Co-Libero of the Year honors from the Conference. Miller became Franklin Pierce's first-ever major award recipient on the volleyball front, and it was only the beginning of her awards season. She was also an All-Northeast-10 First Team selection, earned an All-East Region First Team selection from Daktronics and was an All-East Region Honorable Mention by the AVCA. The Daktronics honor was the first All-Region First Team accolade in program history.

Carrying a 3.96 grade-point average as a health sciences major, Swiderski finished the season 12th in the Northeast-10 in kills per set (2.70). Along the way, she added 10 aces and 20 blocks to finish 18th in the Conference in points per set (2.98). Swiderski, who figures to be a significant part of the Franklin Pierce offense in 2014, had her most efficient season yet in 2013 and finished 24th in the Northeast-10 in attack percentage (.207).

A standout midfielder for the women's soccer team in 2013, Savasta has posted a 3.95 cumulative grade-point average in her major of criminal justice. She proved to be one of the finest players in the Northeast-10 this past fall, as she earned second-team all-league honors by ranking among the team leaders in goals (2), assists (3), and points (7). Both of her markers came in back-to-back games, and were both the game-winners. She sent home a penalty kick in the 89th minute of a 3-2 win over Saint Anselm on Oct. 16, followed by another PK winner in the 57th minute on Oct. 19 in a 1-0 triumph over Le Moyne.

One of the top defenders in the league in 2013, Vieira has posted a 3.59 GPA in her major of marketing. Vieira proved to be a stone wall for Conference foes during the fall season, and was named to the All-NE-10 First Team, while also picking up All-East Region honors from the NSCAA. She also got into the offensive act for the Ravens this season by scoring her first career marker in a 3-2 win over Saint Anselm on Oct. 16.

Recognized as one of the steadiest backs in the NE-10 in 2013, Ciavarra has posted a 3.82 GPA as a graduate student in the MBA program at Franklin Pierce. He helped anchor a defensive unit that recorded nine shutouts on the year, and was eventually placed on the All-NE-10 Second Team. Ciavarra also had a knack for stepping up in the offensive end as well, logging an assist against Saint Rose (Oct. 12), and recorded a season-high four shots in a 2-0 triumph over New Haven on Oct. 26

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).