PICTURED: 2011 CUNYAC Tournament MVP Melinda Santiago

The women’s volleyball program announced today that Anzelika Lukjanska has been named the team’s new Associate Head Coach.

Lukjanska, a native of Daugavpils, Latvia, graduated last month from St. John’s University with a degree in sports management. She played two years on their Division I women’s volleyball team (BIO PAGE) that competes in the Big East Conference. Prior to playing for St. John’s, she played two years at Frank Phillips Junior College in Texas, where she was named a N.J.C.A.A. Division I Second Team All-American.

Lukjanska initially joined Baruch College this past spring semester as a sports management intern in the athletic department.

“We are excited to have Lukjanska’s skill level and experience with our volleyball program,” said Head Coach Allison Stack. “She is very confident in her volleyball abilities and bonded very well with our returning players during spring workouts. She is also a terrific role model for our younger players and with her Division I experience will help us continue to grow as a program.”

The women’s volleyball team is coming off a very successful 2011 season that consisted of winning the CUNYAC Championship, playing in the NCAA Tournament, and finishing with a total of 24 wins.

The 2012 roster features a large number of returning talent such as Jessica Wu (CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, 323 kills), Melinda Santiago (CUNYAC Tournament MVP, 885 assists), Lauren Hayden (3-Time CUNYAC All-Star), and Rebecca Peralta (CUNYAC 2nd Team All-Star).

The Bearcats also return plenty of depth to the roster with talented returning players such as Michelle Stommes, Sara Stephani, and Jacqueline Dugas.

The 2012 schedule will test the team early with seven of the first eight non-conference contests against teams that won at least 22 matches. The season begins on August 31 at the Cortland State Tournament in upstate New York against a pair of teams that also played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament such as Nazareth (26-13) and Skidmore (28-9).

The Bearcats return home to play Western Connecticut State (24-9) on September 4 and NYU-Poly (22-14) on September 6. The rest of the non-conference schedule during the season features matches against New Paltz State (26-11), Richard Stockton (23-9), Elmira (28-8), Old Westbury State (18-12), Stevens Institute of Technology, Kean, Plattsburgh State, Medaille, Montclair State and Centenary.

The Bearcats will play regional power NYU (22-17) on Senior Day scheduled for Wednesday, October 24, at home in the ARC Arena.

The CUNYAC schedule begins on Saturday, September 8, against Brooklyn and York at the CUNYAC Multi-Match. The always exciting and highly-anticipated match against rival Hunter is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, at Hunter College.

The athletic department will also host the CUNYAC Women’s Volleyball Tournament Semifinals and Championship matches on Friday, November 2, with the winner earning the berth to the NCAA Tournament.

For a complete schedule, click here. For more information, please call the women’s volleyball program at 646-312-5053.

HISTORY UNDER HEAD COACH ALLISON STACK
YEAR, OVERALL, CUNYAC RECORD (Place), TOURNAMENT FINISH
2011, 24-11, 8-1 (Second Place), CUNYAC Champions, NCAA Berth
2010, 25-11, 8-1 (Second Place), CUNYAC Second Place
2009, *26-9, 8-1 (First Place), CUNYAC Second Place, ECAC Berth
2008, 17-20, 7-2 (Third Place), CUNYAC Semifinalist
2007, 18-22, 7-2 (Third Place), CUNYAC Semifinalist
2006, 14-17, 6-3 (Fourth Place), CUNYAC Semifinalist

* - Team record for most wins in a season.

ALL-TIME
CUNYAC Tournament Championships:  1983, 1994, 1995, 2005, 2011
CUNYAC Regular Season Championships (1st Place): 1983, 1994, 1995, 2005, 2009
NCAA Postseason Appearances: 2005, 2011
ECAC Postseason Appearances: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2009