Women’s Volleyball Wins Back-to-Back ECAC Championships

By Hector Morales | Published December 19, 2022

The Eastern College Athletics Conference Division III Championship was very emotional for Kean Women’s Volleyball seniors Morgan Hall, Gwen Hangey, Sian Seeger, and Sedona Gaard, as it was the last time they all would share the court together. 

The Cougars have been playing together since Fall 2019 and have made so many memories throughout their volleyball careers. They reminisce on one of their favorite moments together traveling to different states such as California in 2019 and Chicago this season. 

“These four years went by way too fast, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Hangey, a senior setter said. “I would do anything to play one last game with them, to just relive those memories and feelings all over again.”

Hall, Hangey, Seeger, and Gaard have been her best friends since the moment they first stepped on the court during the preseason of their freshman year.

To end their senior year, and their last game together, the Cougars once again won the ECAC Championship for the second season in a row. That is, after losing the NJAC Championship to the Rowan University Profs, 3-1. 

On Nov. 11, they swept the Brooklyn College Bulldogs 3-0 in the ECAC Quarterfinals. The following day, they swept their New Jersey Athletic Conference rival, the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights, 3-0 and defeated the Cabrini University Cavaliers in the finals 3-1.  

In his 14 years coaching the team, this wins marks Head Coach Don Perkins’ third ECAC Championship. 

“It was a fun week at the ECAC,” Perkins said. “We knew we had a good shot of making the finals and it made the season a little better by going out and getting the win.”

Hall, a senior right-side hitter was named MVP of the tournament with 23 kills, 1 block, and 2 aces in the three tournament games. 

“It was such an honor I was so shocked,” Hall said. “It was great to have my team by my side supporting me and helping me on the court to win that award.”

Seeger, a senior libero and defensive specialist accumulated 36 Digs in the three games she played in during the tournament.

“Assisting the team in winning their second ECAC championship is a wholesome feeling, especially to end the season. It was a fun tournament and the team’s hard work and sacrifice paid off in the end,” Seeger said. 

Hangey assisted on 29 points against Brooklyn College to secure the win and Gaard, also a senior libero and defensive specialist, recorded 3 service aces in the finals against Cabrini.

“It feels good to end the season with a win, especially in my senior year,” Hangey said. “I know we didn’t win NJACs to make it into the NCAA tournament, but the ECACs had a good amount of competition.”

The four Cougars have one semester left until they graduate together at the Prudential Center in May. Hall and Hangey are going for Elementary Education, Seeger for Global Business, and Gaard for Communications-Public Relations. Their moments as Kean volleyball players will be cherished for the rest of their lives. 

“Playing with Morgan, Sedona, and Sian for the last time was super emotional for me,” Hangey said. “They are and always will be my best friends and I’m so thankful that I can truly call them my sisters.”

---