Author Archive: vballhall

Dr. Ann Fariss

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Dr. Fariss began her professional teaching career at the University of Bridgeport in 1969. She has an incredible record of contribution and achievement in the areas of physical education and athletics. She was published many articles on sport and participation. She has held numerous positions on committees and AAHPERD and CAHPERD.

Some of Dr. Fariss’ achievements in volleyball include:

  • The organization and administration of the first women’s collegiate volleyball team at the University of Bridgeport;
  • Coach of the women’s volleyball and basketball teams at UB;
  • State officiating coordinator for volleyball;
  • DGWS volleyball rules interpreter;
  • Officiating judge for volleyball ratings clinics;
  • National official at six state volleyball tournaments;
  • National official at exhibition match for Women’s Sports Institute.

 

Barbara Gioncarlo

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Barbara graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1974 where along with her academic studies, she played volleyball, basketball and softball. Upon graduation, she accepted a teaching position in the Waterbury School system as well as a coaching position in 1975 at Naugatuck High School where she became the school’s first girls’ volleyball and basketball coach.

During Barbara’s 12-year volleyball coaching tenure, her team complied a 203-26 record. This includes one state championship season (17-0), five trips to the state tournament, one with a quarterfinal finish, two as semifinalists and two as runner-up. Barbara has coached eight all-state volleyball athletes and she was named the CHSCA Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1981.

She is presently a 6th grade Principal at West Side Middle School in Waterbury.

Nell-Ayn Aloi Lynch

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Nell-Ayn made her mark on Connecticut scholastic volleyball while at Amity Regional High School. She began in 1983 and earned her first varsity letter in 1984.

She was selected a team captain in 1986 and her team captured the Class L state titles in 1983, ’85 and ’86.  She was selected to the CIAC All-State team in ’85 and ’86.  Other honors she received while at Amity included the Amity Athlete of the Month in 1985 and the New Haven Register Athlete of the Week in 1986.

She was awarded a full athletic scholarship for volleyball at the University of Connecticut where she started all four years. She was selected the Big East co-player of the in in 1988 and Nell-Ayn was elected co-captain of the UConn team in 1990.

Nel-Ayn has coached with Debbie Chin at her “No. 1 Total Volleyball Camp”. She returned to Amity in 1992 to assist head volleyball coach Paul Thees. While working with Paul, the team won the ’94 and ’95 Class L state titles. She then moved on to become head coach of the Newtown High School volleyball team in ’96. Her team won the Class L state championship that year.

 

Newtown Bee: Nell-Ayn (Aloi) Lynch, a social studies teacher at the Newtown Middle School, will be inducted

Marsha McNeil

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Marcia began her volleyball experience while at Westhill High School where she not only competed in volleyball, but basketball and track and field as well. She captained all three teams in her senior year. She achieved all-city and all-county honors for volleyball while at Westhill.  She graduated in 1978.

Marcia then moved on and continued her education and volleyball career playing for coach Debbie Chin at the University of New Haven from 1978 through 1982. She was a four-year starter and a co-captain during her senior year.  She continually led the team in kills and blocks. While competing at UNH, her team earned a 118-61 record. During her freshman year, the team qualified for the quarterfinals of the EAIAW tournament. They continued to qualify for the tournament throughout Marcia’s following three seasons.

The University of New Haven inducted Marcia into their Hall of Fame for both volleyball and basketball.

After UNH, Marcia continued her education at the University of Bridgeport where she earned her MS in Education.

Marcia returned to her high school alma mater to coach volleyball, basketball and track and field. Her career record with her volleyball team at Westhill was an impressive 118-91. The team made numerous trips to the CIAC state tournament, many times advancing to the quarterfinals.

She has sat on various committees and has received numerous service awards. She is presently a police officer with the Stratford Police Department.

 

Marilyn Mather

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Marilyn began her 4-year volleyball coaching career at the US Coast Guard Academy in 1993.  During that time, her teams compiled a 119-23 match record. They were league champions and undefeated in their three-year membership in the Northeast Women’s Athletic Conference.  In 1995 and ’96, her teams were ranked second in New England and in the top 15 nationally.  They were selected for the NCAA tournament those seasons, and were the first women’s sport team from the Coast Guard to achieve that honor. Marilyn’s players garnered numerous awards while in competition for the Coast Guard.

In 1994, the American Volleyball Coaches Assoc. selected Marilyn as the Regional Coach of the Year.  That same year she was named the New England Women’s Volleyball Assoc.’s Coach of the Year.  In 1995 she was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

After leaving the Coast Guard, Marilyn coached at Albertus Magnus College for four more years and she continues to be involved in volleyball as a high school official.

Marilyn has recently completed work on her Doctoral degree and has accepted a position at Dowling College on Long Island.

 

Kathryn Symonds

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Kathy began her outstanding coaching career at Amity High School in 1977 where she coached girls’ volleyball for 14 years.

During her reign her teams captured 12 Housatonic League titles. In CIAC  state tournament competition they had two 5th place finishes, two 3rd place finishes three 2nd place finishes and seven Class L state championships. She had a 93% win-loss record with 258 wins and only 18 losses.

Kathy also coached the Amity boys’ volleyball team for nine seasons, winning five state titles.

She was selected as the Amity High School Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year in 1981-82, and the Connecticut High School Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year in 82-83. Kathy was also a 3-time nominee for the National High School Coaches’ Assoc. Coach of the Year for Region I.  Some of Kathy’s other contributions to volleyball include:

  • Member of the CIAC volleyball tournament committee for 8 years;
  • Tournament director for the CIAC volleyball tournament;
  • Site director for the CIAC volleyball tournament;
  • Volleyball chairperson for the CHSCA;
  • Regional director for the CT High School Boys Volleyball League;
  • Coach for the Nutmeg Summer Games;
  • CHSCA All-Star selection committee;
  • President of the Amity Coaches Association;
  • CHSCA Executive Committee (3rd vice president)
  • 15 years as director of the Spartan Volleyball camp.

Kathy coached numerous all-state athletes. She was written up in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” in January 8, 1990 and was featured on MSG-TV network in November 1990.

 

Eleanor Lemaire

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Eleanor, a native of Bristol, RI, graduated from Sargent College in 1951 with a BS in Physical Education. She did post graduate work at RI College, NYU, UConn and Columbia University. She began her teaching career in the Simsbury school system.  In 1962 she began a 1 year run as teacher administrator and coach at the University of Bridgport and Arnold College. She finished her professional craeer at the Universtiy of Rhode Island as Senior Associate Director of Athletics prior to retirement in 1992.

During her days in Connecticut, she was a very active volleyball official holding an honorary national rating. After attending the National Institute on Girls Sports in the early ‘60s, she returned to Connecticut where she started conducting volleyball clinics all over the state. Jean Hunt credits Ellie with introcuding the new power volleyball fame to the state and working diligently to educate teachers, coaches and officials to the “modern” technique of the sports as it was being played in California.

Some of her contributions to varous areas of sport included holding offices such as the DGWS officiating coordinator for the east, EAIAW President, AIAW Executive Board, Chair of the RI Board of Officials and the easter district AAHPERD Secretary. She has been inducted into five halls of fame and she has received numerous honors for administration.

Ellie afforded many high school and college women the opportunity to play and compete, but she never had the opportunity herself. In high school and college, no varsity sport for women offered or allowed in the 40’s and 50’s.

 

Brenda A. Reilly

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Brenda received her BA and MA in Physical Education from California State University at Los Angeles. She continued her education receiving her Doctorate in Physical Education from Springfield College.

Brenda played on the Connecticut Clippers USVA team from ’75-’79.  During that span she also worked as a NAGSW volleyball referee.

She was a member of numerous top-level softball teams including the Raybestos Brakettes.

During her tenure at CCSU, Brenda was the associate athletic director, taught Physical Education, and coached volleyball for 8 years, qualifying for the EIAW Regionals 7 times, softball and was the head women’s basketball coach for 25 years. Brenda’s coaching experiences apart from CCSU included:

  • Assistant coach of the 1991 Olympic Sports Festival Women’s basketball team;
  • The Raybestos Brakettes farm team;
  • Pitching coach for the Italian National softball team;
  • Coaching the Connecticut Falcons to two women’s professional world softball championships;
  • Coaching women’s professional softball team against the People’s Republic of China in a seven game series (7-0).

She received numerous awards for her contributions to women’s sports in Connecticut. Some include:

  • 2000 Women’s Basketball Assoc. Jostens-Berenson Service Award;
  • 1994 induction into the VFW New Britain Sports Hall of Fame (first woman)
  • 1992 Nutmeg Games Living Legend Award
  • 1990 Kodak District I Coach of the Year;
  • 1988 Connecticut Sports Writers’ Gold Key Award.

Brenda Reilly was truly an icon in women’s sports in Connecticut.

New York Times Obituary

Lynn Spagnesi

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Lynn began her volleyball career at Brien McMahon High School where she played from 1969072.  she was team captain her senior year and her teams were undefeated during her junior and senior seasons. in 1972, they placed 3rd in the state tournament. during her high school career, she also was a member of the field hockey, basketball, track and field, badminton and softball teams.

Lynn continued playing volleyball in college when she went on to SCSU wand was a spiker for Louise Albrecht. She competed on the varsity squad from 1972-1976. The team won first place in the regional tournament in 1976 and qualified for the national tournament.

She received Outstanding College Athletes of America award in 1975. She was listed in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1975.

After college Lynn continued to compete playing USVBA for the Connecticut Clippers and the New Haven Dippers for 1977-81. Her teams took first place in the USVBA regional championship in 1977, 79 and 81. She competed in the USVBA national tournament, held in Hilo Hawaii in 1977, representing the Eastern Zone. It was there she played against Olympians Flo Hyman and Debbie Green.

She was a member of the Greater New Haven board of volleyball officials from 1973-77. She also officiated basketball and was an ASA softball umpire.

Lynn also competed in AAU track and field, ASA softball, playing for the Raybestos Brakettes and was assistant women’s basketball coach at SCSU in 1977.

 

The Hour: BMHS hoop stars among Old Timers honorees

Louise Albrecht

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Louise began her volleyball career in the 1960’s as a player in the Southern California USVBA league. When Lou came to Connecticut, in 1969 where she and Joan Joyce started the Connecticut Clippers USVBA team.

She started the volleyball program at California State University at Fullerton where she coached the team to a 20-9 record. She left California in ’69 to coach at Western Connecticut State University.  In 1970, Lou moved on to Southern Connecticut State University where she posted a 57-8 record. She retired from coaching in 1975 but continued in volleyball as an official.

Lou’s role in officiating was multi-faceted. Her talents were well known as she was summarily invited to present at the Eastern Association for Physical and Health for College Women, CAHPERD and NAGWS. Under her direction, SCSU hosted the EAIAW volleyball tournament in ’74, ’75 and ’81. Lou also held the position of assignor for the EAIAW regional tournament in ’76 and ’77.

She held the position of chairperson of volleyball officials for the Southwest Board in ’71-’72. She officiated in the CIAC Volleyball Championships from ’69-’74 and the EAIAW regional tournament in 1972.

Having been honored for her many achievements as player, coach and official, Lou is a member of the National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK.  She is one of the founders of the CT Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Northeast Hall of Fame for Women in Sport as well as the CT Women’s Basketball hall of Fame. Most recently, she was inducted into the CT Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame and she received the prestigious Katherine Ley Award from Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Louise served from 1985-1988 on the NCAA Council and from 1986-1988 she served on the Committee for Improvement of Women’s Officiating.

In 1992, Louise retired from her position as associate athletic director at SCSU.