Sage's Riley and Corbett Named Skyline Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year in Sport

July 4, 2011

Sage's Riley and Corbett Named Skyline Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year in Sport

Mackenzie Riley named women's tennis scholar-athlete of the year, while Nicole Corbett earns women's volleyball scholar-athlete of the year by the conference.

Troy, NY----The Sage Colleges had two student-athletes tapped as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year in their respective sports by the Skyline Conference. Senior women’s volleyball player, Nicole Corbett (Greenbush, NY/Columbia) was selected as the top scholar-athlete in women’s volleyball, while sophomore women’s tennis player, Mackenzie Riley (Albany, NY/Albany) was cited for her efforts on and off the tennis court.

The Academic Honor Roll recognizes each student-athlete in the conference with a 3.30 grade point average or better during his or her season of competition. The grade point average for student-athletes competing in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, and men’s volleyball is based upon a combined fall and spring semester grade point average. Additionally, student-athletes from 10 different conference sports have been named Skyline Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year in their respective spring sports.

"It’s an honor to recognize these student-athletes who truly exemplify what the college experience is all about," says Skyline Commissioner Linda Bruno. "Their commitment to excellence on and off the playing fields and court is inspiring and should serve as an example to all."

The women’s volleyball team leader this past fall, Corbett helped the squad to the program’s fourth straight Skyline Conference Tournament appearance as the Gators went 7-23 on the fall. During her time in a Sage uniform, the Gators earned two NCAA Tournament appearances (2007 and 2008), two Skyline Conference Championships (2007 and 2008) and the league’s runner-up title in 2009. Corbett earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average in the fall and majored in education. She has also been nominated for the 2010-2011 Skyline Conference NCAA Woman of the Year.

Corbett wraps her career as a program record holder and three-time Skyline Conference All-Star First Team honoree. She set the Sage career total block mark earlier this season and finishes with 449 after lead the team this year with 71 total blocks. Her 2010 single-season total stands 10th best at Sage in a single season. Corbett also led Sage as well with her 226 kills and has elevated her career totals to include 1,131 kills, which is fourth on the career list. She was named the team’s Gator of the Year in 2010 as team most valuable player and was also selected as the 2010-2011 Sage Female Athlete of Year.

As a junior, Corbett earned a spot on the 2009 Skyline Conference Scholar-Athlete Fall Team as well as Sage’s Scholar-Athlete Fall Team for her accomplishments in the classroom. She was named the recipient of Sage’s 2009-2010 ECAC Award of Merit after also earning a selection as the 2009 Gator of the Year, team Most Valuable Player.

Riley was named to the 2010 Skyline Conference Women’s Tennis All-Star First Team in the fall. The Gator newcomer earned a spot on the first team after leading the squad with her play in both singles and doubles. In the fall, she earned a 3.81 grade-point-average as a biology major.

In her first year at Sage, Riley tallied an impressive 9-1 record in singles play, including a 5-1 mark in Skyline Conference matches. Her .900 singles win percentage at first singles was second in the Skyline Conference this fall, while 4-2 record at No. 1 doubles was third highest amongst the conference players. Overall, she went 5-5 in doubles play as well to help the team to a 5-7 record on the season.

Her tennis season did not wrap in the fall as Riley was one of three women’s tennis players at Sage that joined the men’s team and performed as a member of the men’s squad in the spring of 2011. Riley played at No. 1 singles and doubles and was also recognized as a member of the Skyline Conference Men’s Tennis Spring Scholar-Athlete Team for her accomplishments on the court and in the classroom.

The following 17 student-athletes have been named 2010-11 Skyline Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year:
Women’s Soccer                   Nicole Christensen, Senior, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Men’s Soccer                         John Dettori, Sophomore, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Women’s Tennis                   Mackenzie Riley, Sophomore, The Sage Colleges
Men’s Golf                             Ian Cumming, Freshman, Purchase
Men’s Cross Country           Evan Haun, Freshman, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Women’s Cross Country     Ally Waka, Junior, St. Joseph’s-L.I.
Women’s Volleyball             Nicole Corbett, Senior, The Sage Colleges
Men’s Basketball                   Giovanni Hurley, Senior, Maritime
Women’s Basketball             Kristin Leitheuser, Senior, NYU-Poly
Men’s Swimming                  Michael Ceko, Senior, Old Westbury
Women’s Swimming            Kaitlyn Raitz, Senior, Purchase
Men’s Volleyball                    David Guerrero, Senior, Mount Saint Vincent
Baseball                                 Anthony Finch, Sophomore, NYU-Poly
Softball                                   Corine Fitzgibbons, Sophomore, NYU-Poly
Men’s Lacrosse                     Mike Shea, Senior, Mount Saint Vincent
Women’s Lacrosse               Lauren Perla, Senior, Mount Saint Vincent
Men’s Tennis                         Zach Charles, Junior, Yeshiva