CENTERVILLE, Mass. (December 27, 2011) – The Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) announced its 2011 South region volleyball all-star selections, with Centenary College’s junior Jelena Markovic (Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina/The Economic School) joining two other Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) standouts with recognition.

Markovic led the CSAC and the nation in service aces, tallying 186, an average of 1.63 per set. Markovic, also placed ninth in the conference in kills, averaging 2.58 per set. Markovic also averaged 3.92 assists and 2.74 digs this season for Head Coach Dinu Dan and the Cyclones who made it to the CSAC Tournament this year.

Markovic’s recognition by the ECAC as a Second Team All-ECAC South All-Star comes on the heels of her being recognized by the CSAC as the Player of the Year. Danielle Carrozza and Sophia Sokolovich, both of Cabrini College were also recognized with ECAC South All-Star honors.

2011 ECAC Division III South Volleyball All-Stars

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 14, 2011) – The Centenary Volleyball team made an exciting return to the CSAC Tournament in 2011 after a one year absence. Led by junior Jelena Markovic (Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina/The Economic School), and seniors Devon Paffendorf (Hackettstown, N.J./Mt.Olive) and Kelsey Walter (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) the Cyclones finished the season 15-20 and 7-5 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. With the 7-4 regular season CSAC record, the Cyclones secured the fifth seed in the CSAC Tournament.

Centenary began the season slow, struggling at the Greyhound Premiere Invitational at Moravian College and at the Scranton Invitational, but righted the ship headed into conference play.  The Cyclones won their first five CSAC matches, defeating Rosemont College, Notre Dame (Md.), Keystone College, and Cedar Crest College all by 3-0 match scores.

The Cyclones hit another bump in the road, losing five of their next six conference matches but once again bounced back to finish the regular season winning three matches in a row including a 3-2 win over Montclair State University.

Head Coach Dinu Dan’s squad benefitted from two seniors, Paffendorf and Walter who were right in the middle of nearly every point. Walter, who became the school’s all time dig leader last season, reached the 2,000 career dig milestone on October 25 versus Baptist Bible College. Paffendorf also reached an individual accomplishment. On October 22 in a match versus Marywood University, the setter became the school’s all-time sets played leader with 437. Paffendorf also leaves Centenary with the record for most career kills (1293) and the top two school records for kills in a season with 484 in 2010 and 309 this season. Walter, in addition to the aforementioned all-time digs record, finishes her career with the top four Centenary College digs in a season totals, posting her best season in 2011 with 570 digs.

In addition to the two seniors, the Cyclones always knew a rally was possible when Jelena Markovic served. Markovic finished the 2011 season as the nation’s top performer in aces per set (1.65) Markovic became Centenary’s all-time aces leader when she surpassed Kelly Zegarowitz with her 266th ace. Markovic also had an impressive season with kills as well. She totaled 305 kills this season, the third best season kill total ranking just behind Paffendorf’s top season totals.

Junior Erika Chu (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) was another Cyclone to become a school leader in an all-time statistic in 2011. On September 24, at the York College Spartan Invitational, Chu recorded her 170th career block, passing by Nadia Reinosa.

The Cyclones entered the CSAC Tournament looking to avenge their regular season 3-0 loss to the Baptist Bible College Defenders. Centenary dropped the first set 25-15 before taking the second set 25-16. The third set was close, with Centenary rallying behind Markovic’s serving, but the Cyclones were unable to come out on top, dropping the set 25-21. Baptist Bible outlasted Centenary 25-20 in the fourth set to advance.

Centenary’s 2011 season saw many individual accomplishments; accomplishments that were rewarded in postseason accolades. Markovic was named the CSAC Player of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Along the way, Markovic was named CSAC Player of the Week three times in 2011 and was selected as the 2011 ECAC South Region Player of the Week for the week of 11/1. Paffendorf was placed on the All-Conference Second Team.

Coach Dan and the Cyclones will surely miss the leadership and on court efforts of the two seniors, yet with many experienced returners, he has nothing but hope for the future.

CENTERVILLE, Mass. (November 3, 2011) – Junior volleyball player Jelena Markovic (Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina/The Economic School) was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Region Player of the Week for the week ending on Oct. 30.

Markovic averaged 2.13 kills and 3.93 digs per set for the Cyclones last week. The junior finished Saturday’s win over Montclair State with 16 kills, 16 assists, eight aces, and 25 digs, only two aces short of her fifth quadruple-double of the season. Markovic also finished the season ranked number one in the nation in aces per set at 1.65 and 34th in points per set at 4.52.

ECAC Player of the Week

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (November 1, 2011) – The Centenary College volleyball team finished their 2011 playoff run on Tuesday after falling to Baptist Bible College defenders 3-1. The loss marks the end of the road for two seniors after a tremendous run for the Cyclones.

The two seniors, Devon Paffendorf (Hackettstown, N.J./Mount Olive) and Kelsey Walter (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) finished their careers strong as they combined for 10 kills and 16 digs in their final game wearing a Centenary jersey.

After dropping the first set 25-15 to the Defenders, the Cyclones bounced back in set two as they fired back with consistent rallies to win 25-16 and even the match at 1-1. The third match turned out to be a thriller for both teams as the Defenders jumped ahead 18-9 early.

Down 19-11, junior Jelena Markovic (Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina/The Economic School) took matters into her own hands as she led the Cyclones on a nine point rally, including four kills by Paffendorf, to come back and take a 20-19 lead.

Unfortunately for the Cyclones, they could not hold on to the lead as they dropped the third set 25-21 to the Defenders. Centenary- continued to keep the match close as they remained tied throughout most of the fourth set until the Defenders were finally able to pull ahead and take the final set 25-20 to advance to the semi-finals of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament.

The Cyclones finish their run with an overall record of 15-20, including a 7-5 conference mark. Ranked top five in the nation, the Cyclones finished the season with a total 459 service aces in their 121 sets played for an aces per set mark of 3.8.

Box Score

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 1, 2011) – The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) announced the 2011 All-Conference Volleyball Teams yesterday and Centenary College’s Jelena Markovic (Brko, Bosnia and Herzogovina/The Economic School) was named the 2011 CSAC Player of the Year with First Team All-Conference honors and Devon Paffendorf (Hackettstown, N.J./Mount Olive) was named to Second Team All-Conference and the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Markovic was named the 2011 CSAC Player of the Year as she finished the regular season ranked number one in the nation in aces per set with 192 aces in 114 sets played. The junior setter finished the season with 292 kills, 443 assists, and 308 digs, recording four quadruple-doubles and nine triple-doubles for the Cyclones.

Paffendorf received Second-Team accolades and a spot on the All-Sportsmanship Team after contributing a season total 299 kills, 37 aces, 125 digs, and 17 blocks for the Cyclones. The senior also became Centenary’s All-Time sets played leader with 453 sets played over her time in a Cyclone uniform.

The Lady Cyclones begin postseason play today as they travel to Clarks Summit, Pa. to take on the Baptist Bible Defenders in the opening round of the CSAC Tournament at 7:00pm.

2011 CSAC All-Conference Teams

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (October 31, 2011) - Junior Jelena Markovic ((Brko, Bosnia and Herzogovina/The Economic School) was named the Cyclone of the Week for the week ending on Oct. 30.

Markovic was named the 2011 CSAC Volleyball Player of the Year and a member of the 2011 All-CSAC First Team for her efforts this season. Markovic tallied a total 32 kills, 59 digs, 50 assists, and 35 aces over her four matches this week, including her 16 kills, 16 assist, 25 dig, and eight ace performance, shying her only two aces from her fifth quadruple-double of the season.

CSAC Player of the Week

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (October 31, 2011) - With their 3-1 win last Thursday, the Centenary College volleyball team secured a spot in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament this week. The Cyclones received the number five seed and are set to travel to Clarks Summit, Pa. to take on the number four seeded Baptist Bible College Defenders at 7pm. The winner of the match will move on to the semi-finals on Thursday at 7pm.