Barry garners Woman of the Year nomination

Julianne Barry became the third Salve Regina female athlete since 2008 to earn the selection as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year.

NEWPORT, R.I. – Recent Salve Regina University graduate Julianne Barry (Randolph, Mass.) has been announced as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.

Barry had a terrific senior season for the Salve Regina women’s volleyball team, ranking sixth in the nation with 1.46 blocks per set while setting program records for kills (269), attack percentage (.327), solo blocks (91), block assists (59), and total blocks (150). As a result, she helped lead the Seahawks to their most successful season in program history, setting the school record with 16 wins while earning their first-ever post season victory and an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament berth. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in career attack percentage (.258), total blocks (427), solo blocks (277), and block assists (150).

Perhaps even more impressive were Barry’s accomplishments off the court. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary and special education this spring while finishing among the top five in her class with an impressive 3.94 grade point average.

For her outstanding accomplishments as a student-athlete, Barry was selected as the 2011 CCC Women’s Volleyball Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, as well as a member of both the All-CCC First Team and the Capital One Academic All-District Team.

"During high school I was given valuable advice, which I have followed throughout my four years at Salve Regina," says Barry. "My high school volleyball coach advised me to keep one goal in mind: to reach my full potential. With this central goal, all minor goals in one practice, one match, or one season would be attainable. I have generalized this notion and applied it to all aspects of my life."

"I live each day on the court, in the classroom, and in community refusing to become complacent. As a four-year starter and two-year captain, I held my role on the volleyball court high. I led by example on the court, in the weight room, and in the classroom, while supporting my teammates with advice on and off the court."

Barry's passion for volleyball extended into community service as she helped set up a weekly volleyball clinic for high school students during the offseason. She joins Allegra Lovoy ('09) and Kacie Gallo ('08) as conference honorees.

The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will review all nominations and narrow the field down to 10 NCAA student-athletes from each of the three divisions. The committee will then select the top three in each division before determining the NCAA Woman of the Year. The winner will be announced this October in Indianapolis, Ind., where the top 10 nominees from each division will be recognized.