Skidmore hoop star Donnelly honored
Thoroughbreds earn a slew of fall post-season accolades
Skidmore’s Kelly Donnelly SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Senior Kelly Donnelly of the Skidmore College women’s basketball team was named to the D3Hoops. com 2017-18 Preseason All-America teams, the organization announced on Nov. 7. Donnelly was named to the fourth team.
The talented player out of powerhouse Averill Park High School is one of only two players in the New York Region to be honored and the only Liberty League player.
Donnelly comes into this season after earning back-to-back All-America nods in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. She’s a twotime Liberty League Player of the Year and was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year her freshman season.
She led the Liberty League in points (20.9) and rebounds (11.0), ranking among the best in Division III in both categories. She set the Skidmore single-season scoring record with 543 points, and broke the 1,000-point barrier on Jan. 10 against Clarkson. She enters her senior season with 1,283 points, 776 rebounds, and 71 blocked shots.
“Kelly is a rare four-year starter that has given everything she has on and off the court,” said Skidmore head coach Darren Bennett.
“Having played at nearby Averill Park, she was seen as a tremendous all-round athlete and her success has followed her 45 miles to Saratoga Springs.
“As a first year player she switched to a forward position in the waning minutes of our 2015 conference championship game and literally changed the flow of the game helping us to win our first conference championship title and move on to the NCAA tournament.
“Since then her permanent position has been swing forward, where she can be nearly un-guardable at times. Her midrange game is incredible, as is her ability to rebound on one end of the floor and lead the break to score or distribute the basketball makes it extremely tough for other players to keep up with her in the open court. Her lay-up making percentage makes it all the more challenging for opposing teams.”
“We’ve only had two other All Americans in our program history, but this is Kelly’s third mention as an All American and that is special. She is a hard worker, dedicated teammate and tremendous person. Kelly is a rare player at this level and we are excited that we will be able to work with her for one more season.”
Skidmore will open the 2017-18 season with the 41st Skidmore Invitational on Nov. 17 and 18. The Thoroughbreds host Bowdoin that Friday at 6 p.m. and Connecticut College on Saturday at 2 p.m. Nov. 8. Junior outside hitter Caite Canfield was named to the first team and sophomore middle hitter Katy Ehnstrom earned second team honors.
Head coach Hilda Arrechea and her staff, assistants Jerry Rodriguez, Viola Kotulak, and Maureen Mahoney, earned coaching staff of the year honors after a season in which the Thoroughbreds finished 18-11 overall, returning to the Liberty League Tournament for the first time since the 2012 season. It’s the ninth such honor for Arrechea, who also eclipsed the 500-win barrier on Oct. 18 against Plattsburgh.
Canfield jumps up to the first team after earning honorable mention honors for the first two seasons. Canfield led the team and was fifth in the Liberty League with 3.19 kills per set. She also is among the league leaders in digs per set, with 3.41.
Ehnstrom earns second team All-League honors for the second consecutive season after a solid 2017 campaign. The sophomore led the Liberty League and finished 40th among all Division III players in hitting percentage (.331). For the season, Ehnstrom averaged 3.29 points and 2.82 kills per set. The sophomore already ranks fourth in Skidmore volleyball history with a career .316 hitting percentage through 1,337 attempts. junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Coughlin were named to the second team, and senior back Kayla Rose joins Winters on the honorable mention list.
Winters caps off a solid first season, sharing the Rookie of the Year honor with Union goalie Heather Poisson. Winters becomes the second Skidmore to earn Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors, joining Kelly Blackhurst in the 2010 season. Winters was a spark for the Skidmore offense, leading all Liberty League freshmen in goals (seven) starting in all 21 games played, finishing with 15 points on seven goals and one assist.
Davenport wrapped up her sophomore year with her second straight AllLiberty League selection, jumping to the first team from her honorable mention selection last season. Davenport started in all 21 contests, finishing second on the team with 20 points on seven goals and six assists.
Folts, like Davenport, also moved up to the first team, after receiving an honorable mention nod last season. The junior started in all 21 games, helping to anchor a stout Skidmore back line which allowed a leaguebest two goals throughout conference play. Folts also led the Thoroughbreds with five defensive saves. On the other end, the multi-talented back was third in the league with nine assists, and was among the league’s best scoring defenders with 15 points on three goals and nine assists.
Hyman is no stranger to the All-Liberty League team, after earning her third such honor in as many seasons with the Thoroughbreds. Hyman played in all 21 games, starting in 16, leading the Thoroughbreds with 27 points on 13 goals and one assist. The junior has scored 27 or more points in all three seasons at Skidmore, and enters her senior year with a career 92 points on 44 goals and four assists.
Coughlin once again earned her way onto the All-Liberty League team, earning second-team honors this season after an honorable mention nod in 2016. Despite appearing in just 13 games due to injury, the junior was stellar, notching a 1.51 goals against average and an .800 save percentage, for an 8-4 record. Coughlin was also among the league’s leaders with three shutouts.
Rose caps a solid Skidmore career with her first All-League selection. Moving from forward to defense this season, Rose helped anchor a strong Skidmore back line, which allowed