Sanchez named Region 21 Player of the Year, four Knights named volleyball All-Region

Haverhill, MA (November 2, 2023) – In advance of the NJCAA Volleyball National Championship tournament beginning next week in Cedar Rapids, IA four members of the Northern Essex Community College women's volleyball team have been named to the All-Region teams.

Highlighted by Vielka Sanchez's (Lawrence) selection as the Region 21 Player of the Year, she was joined on the All-Region First Team by Abigail Heredia (Lawrence) and Maria Reyes (Lawrence). Chantel Melgen (Lawrence) was named to the second team.

Sanchez who currently ranks second in the nation with 1.87 service aces per set has also dished out 318 assists of the Knights region high 630 on the season using a two setter rotation. Sanchez served up a season high 17 aces in a September 16^th match against Quinsigamond and recorded 10 or more aces on five different occasions on the season.

Heredia currently ranks second in the nation in hitting percentage at .421 and has 236 kills which led all of Region 21 and was second in the region with 3.42 kills per set.

Reyes earned the Knights third spot on the first team for her two way play at the net. Her strong play has accounted for 1.55 digs per set and .67 service aces per set.

Melgen, the Knights defensive leader, has picked up 181 digs on the season which was good for fourth in the region. She had only 20 receiving errors in 297 attempts good for a 93% receiving percentage.

Following their first Region 21 championship since 2018, the Knights will make the programs first ever trip to the NJCAA National Championships next week. The action starts on Thursday November 9^th where the 14^th seeded Knights will take on the #3 seeded Century College (MN) Wood Ducks in the tournaments opening match at 10:00amET from the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Area in Cedar Rapids, IA.