Coley Named Landmark Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year

TOWSON, Md. – Mackenzie Coley of Juniata College has been named the 2024–25 Landmark Conference Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She becomes just the second volleyball player in conference history to receive the honor, joining Sydney Portale of Susquehanna (2021), and is the second student-athlete from Juniata to be named a Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, alongside this year's male honoree, Joey Woodrow.

The Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, established in 2020–21, is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete selected from the conference's sport-specific Senior Scholar-Athlete honorees. Coley will now advance for consideration in the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) National Scholar-Athlete of the Year selection process.

Coley graduated with a marketing degree and a minor in management, maintaining a 3.66 grade point average. She earned three College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors (2022, 2023, 2024), was a member of Tau Pi Phi, the national business honor society, and was named to the Dean's List four times.

Off the court, Coley demonstrated leadership and commitment to service. She served as a team lead for the Special Olympics Fall Sectional, actively participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and was a contributing member of Juniata's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Additionally, she organized and volunteered at local youth volleyball camps and supported campus-wide sustainability and charitable initiatives.

"Being named Landmark Female Scholar Athlete of the Year is such an honor," exclaimed Coley. "Juniata has shaped me into the person I am, on the court, and in the classroom. From the endless support by my professors to my teammates and coaches always pushing me to be my best, Juniata has provided me with the best experience. I am not the same person who walked onto campus four years ago, and I will forever be grateful to that girl for choosing Juniata."

A cornerstone of Juniata's volleyball dynasty, Coley helped the Eagles capture three straight NCAA Division III National Championships (2022, 2023, 2024) and four consecutive Landmark Conference titles (2021–2024). Individually, she was a three-time AVCA All-American, former AVCA Region 5 Player of the Year, the 2023 and 2022 Landmark Conference Volleyball Player of the Year, and a four-time All-Landmark selection. In 2024, Coley was named the NCAA Division III Volleyball Huntingdon Regional Most Outstanding Player and earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors.

As a senior, Coley appeared in 34 matches and 92 sets, totaling 354 kills, 10 service aces, 15 solo blocks, and 40 block assists. She was named the Landmark Conference Championship Match Most Valuable Player and earned spots on the AVCA All-Region V First Team and the CSC Academic All-America First Team.

"Mackenzie has been exceptionally adept at maintaining balance in her life here at Juniata," said Junaita head volleyball coach, Heather Pavlik. "She has juggled being an All-America volleyball athlete, an Academic All- America and a constant social presence on campus with an amazing amount of grace and humility.  We are all so proud of everything that she has accomplished."

Over her career, Coley totaled 1,229 kills, 272 blocks, and a .391 hitting percentage, anchoring one of Division III's most dominant volleyball programs. She earned multiple tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team honors at the regional and national levels.