DeCan Named Coach of the Year; Coffey Earns Defensive Player of the Year in Region 3

DeCan Named Coach of the Year; Coffey Earns Defensive Player of the Year in Region 3
November 6, 2025

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, November 6, 2025

The historic season continues for the Hudson Valley Community College women's volleyball team, as six Vikings earned NJCAA Region 3 postseason honors, highlighted by Therese DeCan being named Region 3 Coach of the Year and Emily Coffey receiving Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year.

DeCan, in her third season at the helm, guided Hudson Valley to an undefeated regular season (23-0), the program's first-ever Region 3 Championship, and a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament. Her leadership has elevated the Vikings to one of the top programs in the nation, blending strong team culture with record-setting performance on the court.

Sophomore libero Emily Coffey anchored Hudson Valley's defense all season and was recognized as the Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year while also earning Third Team All-Region honors. Coffey ranked fourth all-time in program history for digs and sixth in the region this season, serving as the backbone of the Vikings' back row and a key contributor to one of the strongest defensive units in the NJCAA.

Freshmen Jocelyn Caputo and Gabriella Kholstinin were both named to the Region 3 First Team, highlighting their dominant seasons at the net and in the setter role. Caputo, a middle and right-side hitter, led the Vikings with 141 kills, posting a .260 hitting percentage and averaging 3.0 points per set. Kholstinin, the team's primary setter, directed the offense with 570 assists (7.92 per set), earning Region and Conference Co-Player of the Year recognition for her pivotal playmaking and consistency.

Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Poutre earned a spot on the Region 3 Third Team after finishing the year with 140 kills, 2.22 kills per set, and nearly 186 total points. Her experience and versatility were instrumental to the team's offensive success throughout the season.

Freshman middle blocker Lillian Fros rounded out the honors as an All-Region Honorable Mention after contributing 133 kills and a .220 hitting percentage while emerging as one of the top first-year middle blockers in Region 3.

Together, this group represents the most decorated all-region class in Hudson Valley volleyball history, capping a milestone year that saw the Vikings capture both the Mountain Valley Conference and Region 3 Championships for the first time.

The Vikings head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday for the National Championship Tournament as the #7 seed. They will face #10 Dallas-Brookhaven in the first round on Thursday, November 13th at 11am. The games will be streamed at https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index