LA PLATA, Md. — Five players from the College of Southern Maryland women’s volleyball team earned spots on the 2025 NJCAA All-Region 20 teams, announced Nov. 12 by conference coaches. The selections, covering nearly half the 10-player roster, mark first-time honors for Lelia Iafeta and Ana Martinez on the First Team, and Amelie Lancioni, Deanna Kalkbrenner and Mia Decarlo on the Second Team.
The Hawks wrapped a 15-12 season Oct. 30 with a 10-3 Region 20 mark, securing the No. 2 seed for the tournament. They fell 3-0 to No. 7 Cecil College in the quarterfinals Nov. 1 at North East, Md., ending a run that included 12 sweeps and a second-place MD JUCO finish at 13-2. Across 27 matches, CSM posted 9.39 kills per set at a .139 hitting percentage, 8.42 assists per set and 1.51 blocks per set, per conference stats.
Iafeta, a sophomore outside hitter, paced the offense with 356.5 points at 4.20 per set, including 323 kills at 3.71 per set. She added 203 digs at 2.33 per set, 22 aces at 0.25 per set and 21 blocks at 0.24 per set, anchoring attacks in wins like a 3-0 sweep of Potomac State College on Oct. 14. Martinez, a sophomore libero, led digs with 499 at 5.67 per set and aces with 34 at 0.39 per set, while distributing 60 assists at 0.68 per set. Her serves proved pivotal in a 3-1 victory over Hagerstown Community College on Oct. 2.
Lancioni, a sophomore setter, averaged 6.35 assists and 3.44 digs per set, leading the team with a .241 hitting percentage. She notched double-doubles in assists and digs in 15 of 27 matches, or 55.6 percent, fueling transitions in a 3-1 upset of Harford Community College on Sept. 16. Decarlo, a sophomore defensive specialist, topped aces at 0.42 per set with 27 total and contributed 136 digs, delivering clutch serves in late-season pushes like a 3-0 win over Carroll Community College on Oct. 9. Kalkbrenner, a sophomore middle blocker, dominated the net with 77 blocks, including 37 solos, accounting for more than 55 percent of the team’s 133 total blocks. Her presence stiffened defenses in sweeps against Frederick Community College on Oct. 4 and Garrett College that day.
Head coach Allorie Sanders, in her fourth season since joining in spring 2022, guided the group through a balanced schedule blending MD JUCO and Region 20 foes. A former player at Bowie State University with CIAA second-team honors in 2014, Sanders also directs the Southern Maryland Volleyball Club, linking college play to youth development. Under her, CSM hosted the annual Dig Pink match Oct. 9 against Carroll, raising awareness for breast cancer while honoring sophomores Iafeta and Decarlo.
Region 20, spanning Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware with 14 Division II teams, bases selections on coaches’ votes weighing stats, versatility and impact. Montgomery College claimed the 2025 title Nov. 2 with a 3-0 win over Hagerstown, advancing to nationals where Cowley College later repeated as Division II champion. CSM’s five picks build on 22 All-Region honors since 2015, including Janiyah Brand’s two First Teams in 2021-22.
