Western New England University

Entering the Season: One of the top defensive specialists in the region...two-sport (starting catcher in softball) standout at WNE...recruited to the Golden Bears as a setter...three-year letterwinner...team's primary libero....set the school's all-time digs record (1,626) in only three years...also holds the program's top-three single-season dig totals...lists ninth in WNE annals with 180 career service aces.

2013 (Junior Year): Became the Golden Bears first-ever NCAA Division III All-America selection by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association when she was named Honorable Mention...tabbed to the AVCA Division III All-New England Region Team...six-time Commonwealth Coast Conference Libero of the Week (Sep. 3, Sep. 10, Oct. 8, Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4) who earned conference Libero of the Year and All-CCC First Team accolades...an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England First-Team All-Star...was on the ballot for College Sports Information Directors' of America/Capital One Academic All-America consideration for the second season in a row after landing on the CoSIDA Academic All-District I College Division Women's Volleyball First Team...Academic All-CCC...Western New England Invitational Most Valuable Player after leading the tournament in digs...won 2013-14 WNE Coca-Cola Female Athlete of the Year...received the WNE Golden Bear Teammate Award...earned the WNE Richard DiRuzza Leadership Award, which recognizes the importance of student development in the classroom, leadership and life...WNE Student-Athlete of the Week (Sep. 11)...paced the CCC with 586 digs and a school-record 5.05 per set, ranking 67th nationally in the latter...reached double-figure digs in all but four matches...eclipsed 30-dig mark twice, including a career-best 33 versus Keene State, a 3-1 win on Oct. 17, and 30 on the road in a 3-2 victory over CCC rival Endicott on Oct. 23...reached 20-digs 12 times, including 25 in the season finale to clinch the ECAC New England crown over Smith...contributed season-high 10 assists at Johnson & Wales (Sep. 4)...97 assists on the year set a career high...

2012 (Sophomore Year): Capital One Academic All-District I College Division Women's Volleyball First Team choice...All-CCC Honorable Mention... Academic All-CCC...tallied a career-high and team-best 574 digs in 122 sets, ranking third in the CCC with a 4.70 average...added 49 assists and 54 service aces (10th in the CCC) to aid the offense...WNE Invitational Most Valuable Player (Sept. 7-8) after leading the tournament with 58 digs...CCC Libero of the Week (Sept. 10, Sept. 17 and Oct. 8)...surpassed 20-dig plateau in nine matches (season-high 29) and had 19 three times...reached the 1000-dig milestone for her career on Nov. 7 against Husson in the opening round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Championship...President’s List recipient.

2011 (Freshman Year): Recorded a team-best 466 digs in 110 sets along with 66 service aces, earning honorable mention all-CCC honors...named to the WNE Invitational All-Tournament Team (Sept. 10), WNE Female Athlete of the Week (Sept. 28) and was a CCC Rookie of the Week (Sept. 20)...ranked fifth in the conference with 4.24 digs per set, second in service aces...Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society inductee

What I Like Best About WNE: "The quality athletic teams and my friends."

High School: Attended Avon, where she was awarded four varsity letters in softball and three in volleyball volleyball captain of the 2010 team...two-time volleyball all-conference choice in 2009 and 2010...graduated in 2011.

Personal: Born Grace Cerny Kucharski on Dec. 9, 1992 in Elgin, Ill., to parents Laurence and Karen...siblings are sister Gillian (who played volleyball at Endicott College) and younger brother Cole...Favorites: movies--A League of their Own, Sandlot and The Goonies; TV Show--Dexter; actor--Johnny Depp; pro team--NHL's Chicago Black Hawks; food--shrimp; musical group--Backstreet Boys...hopes to work for The Disney Company after graduation...spent 2014 spring semester enrolled in the prestigious Walt Disney Company College Internship Program...studying management.

Career Statistics