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Joelle Desrosiers

Desrosiers garners 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award

| By: Noah Rosenthal, Assistant Sports Information Director
Photo by Camilo Agudelo

Joelle Desrosiers was one of 19 women's volleyball players across NCAA Divisions I, II and III to be recognized as a first-team member; Nicole Spoelstra and Brianna Williams joins as third-team honorees

2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Scholar of the Year Finalist Release | Diverse: Issues in Higher Education: 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Scholars Magazine

FAIRFAX, Va. – SUNY Old Westbury women's volleyball senior middle blocker/outside hitter Joelle Desrosiers was recognized as a 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award first-team selection by Diverse: Issues in High Education. The Bayside, New York native was one of 19 women's volleyball players across NCAA Divisions I, II and III to be recognized, along with being the program's first student-athlete to receive the honor. Joining Desrosiers as third-team selections are women's cross country senior Nicole Spoelstra and women's soccer sophomore forward/midfielder Brianna Williams. The annual award ceremony has been transitioned to a remote celebration scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2020 from 1-2 PM EST via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found here (Zoom/Facebook).

Diverse Issues established the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Program, named for the late tennis star, in 1992 to honor outstanding undergraduate students of color. Each sports scholar must be at least a sophomore academically who competes in an intercollegiate sport, maintains a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50, and is active on campus and in the community.

"I am humbled to receive this award," Desrosiers said. "I've always taken great pride in making sure that I performed well both on and off the court. This award is a symbol of all the hard work and dedication that was put in everyday, and for that I am truly honored."

Desrosiers, a graduate of Francis Lewis High School, is majoring in media and communication and represented the Panthers for two seasons (2018-19) after transferring from Queensborough Community College (2016-17). In 2018, Desrosiers was a second-team All-Skyline Conference selection and finished the year hitting a conference-leading .337. She also led the team in points (220.5), kills (152), kills per set (2.0), solo blocks (27), blocks (44) and blocks per set (0.58). She continued her dominance during her final campaign as she recorded team highs in kills (198), kills per set (2.87) and attacking percentage (.174). Desrosiers performed exceptionally well in the classroom where she is a two-time Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll and Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll selection.

Spoelstra was a member of the women's cross country team for two seasons (2018-19). The Deer Park, New York product excelled in the classroom and earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in the Fall 2019 semester to land on the Athletic Director's and Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll. Spoelstra, a graduate of Deer Park High School, will graduate with a degree in psychology.

Hailing from Valley Stream, New York, Williams arrived on campus in 2018 and represented the Panthers for two seasons. Williams put together a memorable rookie season as she registered team highs of eight goals, three assists and 19 points. The 2018 All-Skyline Conference second-team honoree ranked among the league leaders in goals (T-10th) and points (T-11th) to conclude her first season in a Panther uniform. In 2019, Williams recorded nine points including four goals and an assist and helped the Panthers to an 11-9-0 record and advance to the postseason for the first time since 2015. Achieving high success in the classroom, the biology major has been named to the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll and Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll twice.

We congratulate Joelle, Nicole and Brianna for taking advantage of their educational and athletic opportunities as a Panther student-athletes and thank them for using their talents to help represent SUNY Old Westbury in the best possible manner. #OnceAPanther #AlwaysAPanther

PANTHERS on SOCIAL MEDIA: For the latest on Old Westbury Athletics, follow the Panthers via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. #PawsUp #OWmade
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