General | 10/25/2023 3:05:00 PM

New York, New York –  After putting together outstanding freshman seasons, two BMCC women's volleyball players were rewarded as Sarah Sellami (Queens, New York) and Silvia Chen (New York, New York) were named CUNYAC Community College All-Stars by the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) as announced today. The honor is the first for Sellami and Chen, while sophomore Cheyenne Gray-Taitt (Harlem, New York) was named to the CUNYAC Sportsmanship team.
 
Sellami made a splash in the front row on offense and defense for the Panthers this season, uncorking a team-best 127 kills and five double-digit kill games with two double-doubles, which is second on the team. Her 127-kill total was 12th most in a single season and 16th all-time in program history, passing Wai Shan Chan from 2014-15. The Queens, New York native registered her first double-double two weeks ago with a career-best 25 kills and 20 digs against FIT on October 12, 2023, while leading the defense with a team-high 10 blocks. The Queens, New York native was also second in digs with 66 and third in service aces and assists with 47 and 16, respectively.
 
Chen was the quarterback of the Panther's offense this season, leading them in two offensive categories with a team-leading 296 assists and 84 service aces. Her 296 assists were seventh most in a single season, passing Lukolic Medina, and eighth all-time in program history, passing Iris Miranda. She kicked off 2023 strong with nine straight double-digit assists games and a team-best 13 double-digit assist game games with eight games of 20 or more assists and three 30-assist games with a career-high 36 assists last week against Hostos Community College on October 17, 2023.
 
The New York, New York native's 84 service aces were fifth most in a single season, passing Damali Prince and tied for seventh all-time, which is tied with Nolverys Fernandez. She also led the Panthers with four double-doubles. She posted double-digit service aces a team-high three times with a career-high 22 against Bronx Community College on September 9, 2023, one short of the single-game program record set by Emmanuella Aurel (Port Au Prince, Haiti) against the Broncos on October 4, 2022. For that effort, she was rewarded with CUNYAC Community College Rookie of the Week honors on September 11, 2023, after posting two straight double-doubles in the Panther's first CUNYAC double dual over against Hostos Community College and Bronx Community College on September 9, 2023.
 
Gray-Taitt registered career-bests this season in kills (91), digs (58), and service aces (31), with her career-best performance against Hostos Community College on October 17, 2023.

Below is the complete list of the 2023 CUNYAC Community College Postseason Awards and All-Star Selections:

Player of the Year: Noarie Proverbs, Kingsborough
Proverbs turned in a sensational 2023 campaign. A versatile player in the Wave lineup, the 2022 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year has recorded 202 kills, 324 digs and 22 total blocks. She has produced six double-double performances on the year, including three matches with at least 20 kills and 20 digs.
 
Most importantly, Proverbs led Kingsborough to its first conference championship final since 2015.
 
Rookie of the Year: Michelle Liu, Queensborough
Liu made an immediate impact in her first season in Bayside. The rookie paces the team in kills (158) while ranking No. 2 on the squad in aces (45) and No. 3 in digs (166). She has four games with at least 10 kills and 10 digs in the same contest.
 
Most importantly, she helped Queensborough secure both the regular season and tournament championships. Her performance in the tournament landed her MVP recognition.
 
Coach of the Year: Jason Demas, Queensborough
For the 10th time in the last 11 seasons, Demas earned Coach of the Year accolades. At the helm, Demas has led Queensborough to a 17-4 record including a perfect 8-0 mark against CUNYAC opponents. Most importantly, he guided Queensborough to a seventh tournament title in the last eight seasons.
 
2023 CUNYAC Community College Women's Volleyball All-Star Awards
*Player of the Year: Noarie Proverbs, Kingsborough
*Rookie of the Year: Michelle Liu, Queensborough
Coach of the Year: Jason Demas, Queensborough
Sportsmanship Award: Dayana Segura, Bronx
Sportsmanship Team: Cheyenne Gray-Taitt, BMCC; Nicole Rodriguez, Hostos; Victoria Cook, Kingsborough; Julianne Cossin, Queensborough
 
CUNYAC Community College Women's Volleyball All-Star Team
*Noarie Proverbs, Kingsborough
*Michelle Liu, Queensborough
Silvia Chen, BMCC
Cynthia Saravia Reyes, Queensborough
Victoria Cook, Kingsborough
Tabreanna Walrond, Queensborough
Sarah Sellami , BMCC
Virginia Carrasco, Hostos
 
 
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